12
f. i.
't i.
g
E g
_^ ^
^ o
u|
EH ^
Ontario Distorical Society.
PAPERS AND RECORDS
VOL. VIII.
x\
TORONTO :
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.
1907
^
CONTENTS.
PAGE
I. The Insurrection in the Short Hills in 1838. LT.-COL. E. CRUIKSHANK - 6
II. The Hamiltons of Queenston, Kingston and Hamilton. H. F. GARDINER 24
III. The Petuns. I/r.-CoL. G. W. BRUCE - - 34
IV. The Nottawasaga River Route. G. K. MILLS, B.A. - 40
V. THE First Commission of the Peace for the District of Mecklenburg.
R. V. ROGERS, LL.D.- - .... 49
•VI. Some Events in the History of Kingston. W. S. ELLIS, B.A. - 78 —
VII. Early History of the Anglican Church in Kingston. REV. ARCHDEACON
MCMORINE, D.D. - - ~ v ,-•'. - - . -90
VIII. Some Epochs in the Story of Old Kingston. Miss AGNES MAULE
MACHAR ("Fidelia") - - - • '.. - - 102
IX. The Navies on Lake Ontario in the War of 1812. Notes from the Papers
of a Naval Officer then serving on His Majesty's Ships. BARLOW
CUMBERLAND, M. A. - '-'"'. . > : , ~. . v . 124
xX. Cataraqui. CHARLES MACKENZIE - . , , ,• V * , ^y ; - . . 142
XI. Captain William Gilkison. Notes from a Paper prepared by Miss
AUGUSTA ISABELLA GRANT GILKISON • *'• — - - - 147
XII. Early Churches in the Niagara Peninsula, Stamford and Chippewa, with
Marriage Records of Thomas and James Cummings, J.P., and
Extracts from the Cummings Papers. Miss JANET CARNOCHAN - 149
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
The Great Seal of the Province of Quebec attached to " The First Commission
of the Peace for the District of Mecklenburg " - Frontispiece
La Salle - ' 81
Within Fort Henry 81
An Ancient Plan Indeed -----. 82
A Plan 140 Years Old 85
Kingston in 1796 87
The Original St. George's Church, Kingston - - 90
Archdeacon Stuart's Tomb - 101
Governor Simcoe's Council House, Queen Street, Kingston, 1792 ... 118
Shoal Tower, Kingston - - - 120
Kingston in 1819 - - - 124
A Scene on Lake Ontario. United States Sloop of War Gen. Pike, Commodore
Chauncey, and the British Sloop of War Wolfe, Sir James Yeo, preparing
for action, September 28th, 1813 - - 130
Kingston from Fort Henery -•.- - - 140
I.
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838.
BY LIEUT.-COL. E. CBUIKSHAISTK.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the O. H. S. at Niagara-on-the-Lake, June 8th, 1905.)
The unsuccessful attempt to organize an insurrection «at the Short
Hills, in the Township of Pelham, in June 1838 is an interesting epi-
sode which has received but scant consideration from most historians
of that troubled time. Read's account is grotesquely inaccurate while
Dent and Lindsay barely refer to it. Kingsford gives it a couple of
pages, which it seems scarcely necessary to remark are disfigured by
several grievous misprints and errors. Two of the leaders, Benjamin
Wait and Linus Wilson Miller, wrote accounts of their captivity, but
have little to say about the rising itself, and their statements, for
obvious reasons, cannot as a rule be accepted without corroboration.
Navy Island had been evacuated by Mackenzie and his followers
on the 16th of January, and although public meetings were subse-
quently assembled at intervals in most of the American towns and
cities near the Canadian frontier to express sympathy and raise money
for the refugees, and small bodies of men were reported to be drilling
for their service at various places, no further attempt to make an inva-
sion took place for several months. Meanwhile a considerable force of
Incorporated Militia was organized for the defence of the Province of
Upper Canada by voluntary enlistment, and the First Frontier Light
Infantry, composed of ten companies, enrolled in the Niagara District
and commanded by Lieut. -Colonel John Clark, was stationed along the
Niagara River, in conjunction with some small detachments of regular
troops, which had arrived from Montreal. Colonel Hughes, of the
24th Regiment, assumed the command of the frontier, which he retained
until May, when he was relieved by Colonel H. D. Townsend, of
the 32nd.
On April 4th sentence of death was pronounced at Hamilton upon
nine prisoners who had been concerned in Dr. Duncombe's rising near
Brantford, three of whom were recommended for mercy and respited.
The date of execution of the sentence upon Horatio Hill, Stephen
Smith, Charles Walworth, Ephraim Cook, John Tufford and Nathan
Town was fixed for the 20th of April. On the 13th of that month
5
6 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews were hung at Toronto. The exe-
cution of these unfortunate men naturally excited bitter resentment,
not unmingled with apprehensions for the lives of other prisoners,
among their friends and sympathizers, both in Canada and the United
States. On the following day the Executive Committee of the Cana-
dian Refugee Republican Association met at Lockport, N.Y., where
they ihad established their headquarters, to consider the situation and
make arrangements for the forcible liberation of the prisoners at Ham-
ilton. A body of volunteers was easily enrolled for an attack upon
the gaol on the night of April 19th, which Dr. J. T. Wilson and Linus
Wilson Miller, a hare-brained young law student from Rochester,
offered to lead. Upon arriving in Hamilton on the 18th they learned
that the prisoners had been reprieved, and found the place thronged
with militia, who had been called out to guard the gaol. Reports of
preparations for ian invasion and of the gathering of bodies of
" patriots," as the American newspapers styled the refugees and their
sympathizers in Buffalo, Lewiston, Lockport and Rochester, continued
to keep the troops on the frontier on the alert. In the beginning of
May one small party from Buffalo landed on Point Abino, but hastily
re-embarked after remaining there a few hours. On the 12th of that
month Charles Durand was formally sentenced at Toronto to be hanged
on the 24th and the remainder of the political prisoners awaiting trial
were ordered to be discharged upon furnishing sureties for their good
behavior for three years. Durand was reprieved, .and three months
later his sentence was commuted to banishment, upon which he went
to join the refugees in Buffalo. On May 30th the steamboat Sir
Robert Peel was captured and burnt by a party of " patriots " near
the mouth of French Creek, in the St. Lawrence, in consequence of
which Governor Marcy, of New York, was induced to offer a reward
of $500 for the apprehension of William Johnson, late of French Creek,
and $250 each for the arrest of Daniel McLeod, Samuel C. Frey and
Robert Smith, refugees from Upper Canada. Sir George Arthur, the
Lieutenant-Governor of that Province, also issued a proclamation,
offering a reward for the capture of the offenders, but strictly for-
bidding any acts of retaliation upon the persons or property of citizens
of the United States, of which indiscreet threats had been publicly
made. The statutory annual muster of the militia of Upper Canada
took place, as usual, on the 4th of June. Colonel James Kerby's report
to Colonel Townsend of his inspection of the 2nd Lincoln Regiment
has been preserved and has more than ordinary interest from subse-
quent events.
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 7
" DKUMMOKDVILLE, 5th June, 1838.
" SIR, — I beg leave to report for the information of His Excellency
the Major-General Commanding, that I went to review the Second
Lincoln Regiment of Militia at Allanburgh yesterday, the usual place
of rendezvous, a regiment I have had the honor of commanding for
many years.
" I regret to remark that a rumor of disaffection had prevailed
amongst some of the companies residing at Short Hills and on that
account I felt anxious to see the regiment and ascertain, if possible, if
such a feeling was manifest on their part. I have, however, to assure
you that I discovered nothing of the kind. Lieut.-Colonel Rorback, in
command, received me at 1 o'clock in a manner most gratifying to my
feelings. Every attention was paid me during the time I read the
Governor's proclamation relative to the recent acts of outrage, and
entreated their forbearance against any act of retaliation being com-
mitted by any. I continued in offering a few further remarks and
proposed to close the duties of the day by giving three cheers for the
Queen and Governor, which was with enthusiasm responded to.
" I have it upon paper that the strength of the regiment was nearly
one thousand men — very few guns — and the two companies alluded
to were far the strongest. A troop of dragoons, consisting of upwards
of fifty, added much to our appearance.
" The utmost good order prevailed during my presence and at
5 o'clock I left the grounds and every person had gone home."*
Colonel Samuel Street's regiment, the 3rd Lincoln, was inspected
at Chippawa, where it turned out in nearly equal strength.
The refugees on the American side, however, were still active and
undismayed by the preparations for repelling them. They openly
boasted that they could assemble five hundred well-armed men at any
point on the frontier in a few ihours, and that they had secreted more
than twelve hundred stands of arms and six pieces of cannon. At this
time the entire force of United States troops available to maintain the
neutrality laws on this frontier did not exceed ninety men.
On the night of the 17th of June a body of more than two hun-
dred armed men marched through Lewiston on their way to Clark's
Point, on the river, two or three miles below where a small schooner
and two scows were moored in readiness to convey them across the
river for the attack of Queenston, which was garrisoned by a single
eompany of the First Frontier Light Infantry, under Captain Lewis
* "Canadian Archives," C. 609-2, pn. 41, 42.
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Palmer. In anticipation of success, the " patriots " had provided
themselves with printed proclamations announcing the capture of the
two forts at Niagara. When the order to embark was given to this dis-
orderly rabble only twenty-three persons obeyed, and an alarm being
spread soon after that the United States troops were marching against
them, the whole party dispersed before daybreak. Next day fifty reg-
ular infantry and the crew of a revenue cutter arrived from Buffalo and
took up their quarters near the landing. Shortly after this a depot of
a hundred stand of arms was seized by these troops at Dickenson's
tavern, on the Lockport road, and their determination to maintain the
neutrality of the country was firmly declared. On the Canadian side
William Woodruff, an influential and respected citizen of St. David's,
was arrested on suspicion of complicity in this affair, but soon released.
Disconcerting as these events must have been to the refugees, the
most sanguine and resolute among them did not abandon their design
of entering Canada, and on the j£^h of June they jeassembled at
Schlosser and crossed to Grand Island, where they were supplied with
arms and ammunition. That night twenty-six of them, among whom
were Alexander McLeod and John James McNulty, who had been con-
cerned in the insurrection at Montgomery's tavern; Jacob Beemer,
who had been indicted for participation in Duncombe's rising, and
Samuel Chandler, of Pelham, and Benjamin Wait, of Willoughby,
who had joined Mackenzie on Navy Island, landed a few miles above
Chippawa and encamped for a day or two in a large and dense tamarac
swamp, in the Township of Willoughby, where they endeavored to
remain concealed until they could make their way further inland.
Chandler, who was born in Connecticut, but had been domiciled in Can-
ada for many years as a wagon-maker, and had acquired sufficient in-
fluence to be appointed a justice of the peace, seems to have planned the
expedition. He possessed a wide acquaintance, and not a little influ-
ence among the inhabitants of the Township of Pelham, many of whom,
he believed, were ready to co-operate with them, and in evidence of
this he displayed a list of not less than five hundred and twenty-six
persons whose names had already been enrolled. Wait was quite as
hopeful and enthusiastic, and between them they had succeeded in
inducing James Morrow, a tanner from Pennsylvania, to join the
party. He was a Roman Catholic, of Irish parentage, who possessed
some means and had received some military training. It is stated that
he was assured that three thousand men were ready to assist in an
insurrection. After securing a supply of bread from a baker in
Chippawa, who appears to have been a sympathizer, they divided into
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 9
several parties and commenced their march for the Short Hills, about
fifteen miles distant, which they had selected as their base of opera-
tions. They reassembled on June 12th at the barn of Lewis Wilson,
wiho was then a refugee in Buffalo, but soon removed to a commanding
position in the woods on the farm of Aaron Winchester, another sym-
pathizer, about three miles from the hamlet of St. John's, and seven
miles from St. Catharines, whence they possessed a wide view of the
surrounding country in all directions, and a perfect labyrinth of
ravines, thickets, and winding roads would favor their operations and
render it difficult to take them by surprise. On the same day they
notified Major-General Daniel McLeod, the recently-appointed Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Patriot army, who was at Lockport, by special
messenger, that they were encamped among the Short Hills, awaiting
orders from the " Provisional Government." It was decided that their
movement was premature, and might imperil the success of the general
insurrection, which was being planned to take place upon " Inde-
pendence Day," and Linus Wilson Miller, who had been appointed
an aide-de-camp to McLeod, with the rank of Colonel, was detailed to
proceed to their camp and instruct them to return to the United States.
He succeeded in joining them undiscovered, with two companions,
when their number was increased to thirty, but although some of the
neighboring inhabitants visited them daily and even supplied them
with provisions, they resolutely refused to assist them until they were
joined by a reinforcement of five hundred men from the American
side, of which they had spoken. They had elected Morrow as their
commander, with the rank of Colonel, white Wait had been made
Major, Beemer and McLeod, Captains, and Chandler, Commissary.
By this time a report that a number of suspicious persons had been
seen in the vicinity of Chippawa had reached the ears of James Cum-
mings, a vigilant magistrate at that place, who sent out some men to
investigate. Their deserted encampment in the swamp was discovered
and the number of its occupants was closely estimated from traces they
had left behind. Information was also obtained that their destination
was some part of the Township of Pelham, where Mackenzie himself
had found shelter and assistance during his flight to Buffalo, and he
was still supposed to have numerous wellwishers and adherents.
On the 8th of June a small troop of Provincial cavalry from
Toronto, known as the Queen's Lancers and commanded by Lieut.
Magrath, had arrived at Queenston for the special duty of patrolling
the river more effectively, and now a sergeant's party was detailed to
10
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIE'IY.
proceed to Pelham to gain intelligence of the appearance of any sus-
picious persons.
Meanwhile, Morrow's followers had absolutely refused to obey the
militia order from McLeod to return, which Miller read to them, before
they had succeeded in " striking a blow," and he had attempted to
return to Lockport with this answer, but found the river bank so closely
watched that he went back to their camp in the hope of persuading
them at least to remain quiet until the fourth of July, when they could
join in the general movement .arranged for that date. They still
remained undisturbed in their encampment and had enlisted a number
of new recruits, mostly very young men or persons of no position.
Jacob Beemer, for whom Miller had conceived a great dislike, seemed
to have gained the ascendant in their councils and directed their opera-
tions. On the 20th they were joined by five or six persons from the
United States, who confidently assured them that they would soon be
followed by Major-General McLeod and three hundred men from Lock-
port. Encouraged by this information and finding that they numbered
forty-nine men, they determined to attack the little party of Lancers
which ihad lately taken up its quarters at Osterhout's tavern in St.
John's. This consisted of a corporal and twelve men, commanded by
Sergeant Eobert Bailey, who, notwithstanding their designation as
lancers, were only armed with swords and pistols.
In order to surround the village and prevent the escape of any of
this outpost, it was determined to advance in three divisions. At nine
o'clock the first of these, headed by Beemer, marched off and on their
way broke into the house of Overholt, a very old man, who was
obnoxious to some of them, not only because politically he was a Tory,
but also because he had served in the Hessian contingent of Burgoyne's
army and afterwards in Butler's Hangers during the American Kevo-
lution. This man was robbed by them of $1,000 and his son of $300
in gold and silver coin. The second band, led by Morrow himself, left
camp two hours later, uniting with Beemer' s party on the road, but
did not arrive at St. John's until about two o'clock in the morning, by
which time the third division also came up. A sentry who was posted
outside the tavern challenged upon their approach, when he was fired
at. He discharged his pistol and ran into the house, alarming Ser-
geant Bailey, who was in bed. The doors and windows were barri-
caded and the house was soon surrounded by the insurgents, shouting
and discharging their firearms, with which they seem to have been
well provided. The Lancers replied with their pistols from the win-
dows of the upper story. About fifty shots are said to have penetrated
THE INSURRECTION IN T.,E SHORT HILLS IN 183S. ll
the roof and walls, but only one of the defenders was wounded, while
they succeeded in shooting two of their assailants and kept them at
bay for half an hour when they began to bring bundles of straw, with
the avowed intention of burning the building, at the same time raising
fierce cries of " ~No quarter." To avoid this horrible fate, Bailey agreed
to surrender. When day broke the prisoners were marched away some
distance into the woods and their captors discussed the question what
should be done with them in their presence. Beemer and Chandler
warmly urged that they should be hung and seven were actually selected
for execution. Morrow and Miller, on the other hand, protested
against this cruel decision and advised that they should be released
after taking an oath not to bear arms again during the contest. Their
opinion finally prevailed and the prisoners were formally paroled and
released. The number of the insurgents seen by them was roughly
estimated to exceed one hundred, and the most exaggerated accounts
spread rapidly and created a great sensation on both sides of the
frontier.
A correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce, writing
from Chippawa that day, June 21st, said:
" I arrived here to-day and found this place in a great excitement,
owing to a battle which took place last night at Short Hills, about
twelve miles hence, between a mounted troop of 100 British lancers
ano^ about 2,000 patriots.
" It resulted in the loss of four lancers and the capture of nearly
all the rest. The patriots are fast gaining ground, and will not recede
until they succeed or -are exterminated. This place is garrisoned with
five hundred regulars, the 24th Regiment, and the lancers, besides
volunteers. Every person is thoroughly searched before he can leave
the place.
" The steamboat which lands the passengers from Buffalo is
searched. They very much fear an eruption in this place, and for this
reason every hotel is under giiard and every passenger searched by
armed men."
The editor of the Lewiston Telegraph, a pronounced and ardent
partisan of the revolutionary movements, furnished his readers on the
same day with this account:
" An engagement took place last night at the Short Hills, Niagara
District, U.C., between the patriots and a company of the Queen's
Lancers . The Short Hills are thirteen miles from Niagara Falls and
comprise a district of uneven surface, covered with thick woods and
swamps, and admirably adapted to that species of warfare that the
12 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
patriots appear to have adopted. It is inhabited by men of a deter-
mined character and liberal principles and we have long expected an
outbreak in that quarter.
"A company of the Queen's Lancers were sent into that quarter
a week ago to put down any demonstration of patriotism. This morn-
in» at ten o'clock an express arrived at Niagara, who stated that the
WHOLE COMPANY had been surprised and after the loss
killed, «all who survived were taken prisoners.
" The report was at first doubted and a gentleman of the highest
respectability went over to Queenston to ascertain the truth. Captain
Palmer, the Commandant at that place, admitted that there had been
a skirmish between ten of the lancers and two hundred patriots, in
which the former lost their horses and equipments and were all taken
prisoners, but were afterwards released.
" The leader of the patriots is said to be Samuel Chandler.
" We believe the whole company of lancers have been taken pris-
oners and are still retained as such. Philip Bender was the only man
who escaped, and he was wounded in the leg. McLeod is supposed to
be one of the patriot leaders and Samuel C. Frey is also supposed to
be among them. For the last ten days the Canadian refugees have
been returning by night in small parties, and we have understood their
rendezvous to be in the Short Hills.
" This morning 110 regulars and some volunteers were ordered
from Chippawa and Drummondville into that district, but as the
patriots have now commenced the war, the woods are alive with them
and the regulars will probably be all cut to pieces within twenty-four
hours."
The Daily Buffalonian, another enthusiastic supporter of the
" patriot " movement, announced a few days later that :
" The war in Canada will soon commence in earnest. There is
little doubt that the whole London District is in arms. We predicted
this when Lount and Matthews fell. That event produced a change in
the feelings of the people of Canada, at which the Loyalists trembled.
Thousands who before had been moderate or constitutional reformers
then became radicals of the deepest dye.
" The silent preparations for the movement have been going on for
three months. Arms have been collected and buried at different points,
both in Canada and the United States. Several thousands of Cana-
dians on either side of the line have signed the oath of freedom."
These extravagant expectations were, however, doomed to speedy
and complete disappointment. The prompt advance of another detach-
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 13
anent of the lancers, acting in conjunction with several companies of
the Second Lincoln Militia .and a troop of local dragoons, upon the
21st of June, caused the insurgents to abandon their camp and disperse
in great haste. Several prisoners were taken, among them Samuel
Chandler, who was captured single-handed by Cornet Heath of the
lancers, while on his way to purchase provisions. He was formidably
armed and on his person was found one of the proclamations of June
7th, announcing the capture of Forts George and Missassauga. Lieut. -
Colonel Rorback's letter describing the movements of his regiment has
never been published.
" STAMFORD, 23rd June, 1838.
" SIB, — On hearing the report of the attack on the men stationed
at St. John's, I felt it my duty to wait on you to receive instructions
relative to the muster of the men of the 2nd Lincoln Militia for duty
should you deem it necessary, and to endeavor to obtain an order for
arms. As you directed me to give such directions as might be requi-
site, I ordered out four companies of the regiment, stationed since on
the line between Queenston and Chippawa, and at the different cross
roads, and went myself to St. John's, taking Captain McMicking, Cap-
tain and Adjutant Gordon, and 44 dragoons, where we remained the
night of the 21st, having piquets out in different directions and also
a patrol of six dragoons the whole night. Yesterday we proceeded to
Rice's, at the Short Hills, near which I met Captain Hepburne with
his company, who came to meet me there, as also Captain Bradshaw
and his company and some volunteers. We then proceeded on the
Canboro road, about four miles, with sixty mounted men and the
infantry, about sixty. We took >a cross road, about two miles, to where
it was said was the encampment of the rebels. I then extended the
two companies and went through the bush, directing the cavalry to keep
a good lookout at the different cross roads and meet us at Rice's. We
made no discovery on going through there, but on coming out got infor-
mation of another place. We then proceeded to the cross roads and
divided. I went to where I had information of some of the arms, etc.,
taken from our men at St. John's, placing the other party under charge
of Captain Gordon, to proceed to the other encampment ground,
where they made such discoveries as I presume he reported to you. We
then went through the Short Hills generally and returned again to St.
John's at 5 o'clock, where we found all quiet.
" The company under command of Captain Amos Bradshaw pro-
ceeded from Rice's to Misener's Bridge, on the Chippawa River, for
14 ONTAK10 HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the purpose of cutting off the communication between the rebels and the
Short Hills. The company under the command of Lieut. John Thomp-
son were ordered to remain at Rice's until the morning.
" It gives me much satisfaction to state to you that the whole of
the officers and men behaved in the most orderly manner and seemed
determined to do their duty.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, etc., etc.,
A. RORBACK,
Lt.-CoL 2d Lincoln:'*
COLONEL TOWNSEND,
Commanding the Niagara Frontier, etc., etc.
The systematic way in which all roads leading to the frontier were
guarded and the woods scoured in the vicinity of their late encamp-
ment, convinced the insurgents that there was little prospect of escap-
ing across the Niagara and most of them fled westward, with the
intention of reassembling at Sloat's tavern, fourteen miles from Ham-
ilton, on the road to Grand River, with the purpose of entering the
London District, in the hope of inciting a rising there. This news
reached Hamilton on the morning of Sunday, the 24th, when Colonel
Allan MacNab instantly ordered out four militia regiments from the
Gore District, the 3d Gore, the Beverley regiment, the Queen's Own
and the Queen's Rangers, to intercept them. Finding their retreat
in that direction cut off, many of them turned back and were captured
in detail. Sir George Arthur at once issued a proclamation forbidding
all persons from leaving or entering the Province, unless provided with
passports, and offered a reward of £250 for the apprehension of
Morrow, who was soon after given up to the militia by a Scotch
farmer, whojxmnd him hiding in the woods. Miller, Wait, Beemer,
McLeod and McNulty, were all taken. Six of the insurgents were
captured by the Gainsborough militia and some were even found lurk-
ing on Gull Island, in Mohawk Bay, near the mouth of Grand River,
in the vain hope of getting across Lake Erie. In all, thirty-one per-
sons, including two women, were arrested. Dr. J. T. Wilson was the
only person of consequence who escaped. In Wait's possession was
found a flag with two stars and the word " Liberty " embroidered upon
it. Morrow had some maps and plans, and letters were taken, reveal-
ing the existence of a widespread plot.
* Canadian Archives, Series C, Vol. 610, p. 201.
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 15
The Daily Buffalonian, of July 2nd, relates that :
" The most extensive conspiracy ;has been going forward for the
last three months, from one end of Canada to the other, from
the Thousand Islands, the Pirate Johnson's fastnesses1, to
Maiden. Lines of secret posts have been run and until the skirmish
at the Short Hills all was secret. Papers were taken there which let
the matter out. The general movement was to (have been on the
Fourth."
The exasperation of the refugees and their sympathizers in the
United States at the mass of the Canadian population, because they
refused to be drawn into a revolutionary movement, knew no bounds.
The editor of the Lewiston Telegraph, in relating the arrest of Morrow,,
vented his disappointment in these terms:
" Brave and chivalrous himself, he believed the Canadians would
rally to the standard the moment it was raised, but he was doomed, and
we hope it will be a lesson to Americans not to embark in any similar
enterprise for the assistance of that cowardly people. They have shown
themselves an inert, stupid mass, without & spark of the fire of
seventy-six. A people whom neither the murder of their leaders, the
imprisonment of their friends, the loss of their property or the tyran-
nical acts of a foreign despotism can arouse to resistance, deserve to be
slaves, and sympathy and assistance for such a people is utterly thrown
away. There are some to whom these remarks do not apply, some who
would gladly peril everything for the redemption of their country, but
the great mass of the people, who alone can effect a revolution, are
stupid and indifferent."
Morrow seems to have maintained a thoroughly defiant attitude for
some time .after being taken. It is related that on being conducted
through Queenston on his way to Niagara gaol, he was offered a glass
of wine, which he accepted, and proposed the toast " May Oaniada
never become quiet until the American eagle floats on the Heights of
Queenston."
Three of the prisoners, Doan, Hart and Simpson, were admitted
as Queen's evidence, and Morrow, Wait, and Chandler were tried at
Niagara before Justice Jones, on July 21st. They were convicted and
sentenced to be hung on the 30th. Wait and Chandler were
recommended for mercy by the jury, the latter particularly, because
of " his previous good character and his good feeling and humanity
towards his neighbors," and from consideration for his large family.
Morrow was duly executed on the day named, but the other two were
respited and their sentence was ultimately commuted to one of trans-
16 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
portation for life. George Cooley, of New York, was tried and con-
victed on the day of Morrow's execution, and upon the 1st, 2d and 3d
of August Linus Wilson Miller, of New York; William Reynolds, of
Pennsylvania; Gorman Mallory, of Chicago, and James Gemmill,
John Grant, Murdoch McFadden, John James Mc^ulty, Alexander
McLeod, David Taylor James Waggoner, Garret Van Camp, John
Vernon, George Buck, Jacob Beemer, Erastus Warren and John W.
Brown, British subjects by birth or naturalization, were put upon trial.
Reynolds, Mallory and Warren pleaded guilty and prayed for mercy.
Miller's .attorney set up a plea of insanity on behalf of his client, but
all were convicted and sentenced to death on the 25th of August. The
jury strongly recommended Miller and others for mercy on account
of their youth. Miller was only twenty years of age, Reynolds and
Buck were eighteen, McFadden but seventeen. Several prisoners were
then acquitted. Petitions for clemency for the condemned men were
signed by Alexander Hamilton, Sheriff of the Niagara District, and
other influential residents of the vicinity, as well as by many inhabi-
tants of the State of New York. The wives of Wait and Chandler
made a personal and effective appeal to Lord Durham, who instantly
instructed Sir George Arthur to respite all the prisoners under sen-
tence and send him a full report of their cases, at the same time call-
ing his attention to a despatch from Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Sec-
retary, dated the 21st of April, 1838, announcing " the earnest desire
of the Government that the utmost lenity compatible with public
safety should be exercised towards the insurgents. " In reply, Arthur
recommended that the worst offender among the British subjects should
be executed and the remainder transported or confined in "tihe (peni-
tentiary for a term of years. The Governor-General declined to
concur, and reiterated his request for a report, with full information.
Accordingly, on the 27th and 28th of August, Arthur convened the
Executive Council, of whom Robert Baldwin Sullivan, William Allan,
Augustus Baldwin and William Henry Draper attended. They
reaffirmed their previous opinion that " prompt and exemplary punish-
ment of the criminals implicated in the late excursion is necessary for
the public safety," and recommended that Jacob Beemer should be exe-
cuted, that Samuel Chandler, Benjamin Wait and Alexander McLeod
should be transported for life, and that Erastus Warren should be com-
mitted to the penitentiary for fourteen years, and John W. Brown for
three years. The Council declined to recommend any of these prisoners
for unconditional pardon, and stated " their opinion that the punish-
ment of all these criminals is essentially necessary for the preservation
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 17
of the colony and for the purpose of deterring those inclined to enmity
with the Province from further reiteration of hostile attempts against
it." In respect to Beemer, however, the Governor-General overruled
the recommendation of the Executive Council and commuted his sen-
tence to transportation for life.
ILLUSTRATIVE DOCUMENTS.
Hon. W. H. Draper to James Cummings, at Chippawa.
HAMILTON, 4th March, 1838.
MY DEAB SIR, — I have heard that you are conducting an inquiry
into the conduct and proceedings of some of the people of Pelham, who
are suspected of being no better than they ought to be. The enclosed
papers may be useful to you. They were taken among those of
McKenzie after our skirmish at Montgomery's on the 7th Dec. last.
Be careful of them and return them at some convenient opportunity.
(From original letter in my possession.)
Proclamation by His Excellency Sir George Arthur, Knight Com-
mander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, Lieutenant-
Governor of the Province of Upper Canada, Major-General
Commanding Her Majesty's Forces therein, etc., etc.
Whereas, on the morning of the 21st of the present month of June
a large body of armed men assembled in the Township of Pelham in
the Niagara District and attacked and plundered a house in that neigh-
borhood of a large sum of money and other property and fired upon and
overpowered a small detachment of the embodied militia there
stationed.
And whereas, information has been received by me that certain
evil-disposed persons connected with the brigands who have of late
molested and disturbed the peace of the American and British fron-
tiers have crossed the Niagara Kiver and lurk and secrete themselves
in parts of the District of Niagara with the knowledge and conniv-
ance of some of the disaffected resident inhabitants.
And whereas, it is necessary for the peace and security of the Dis-
trict of Niagara that the ingress and egress of idle and evil-minded
2
18 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
persons should be restrained and prevented .and that the perpetrators
of the above outrage should be brought to condign punishment.
I do therefore strictly order and command all officers, magistrates,
and others whom it may concern, that no person should be permitted to
land upon or leave the shore on the British side of the Niagara River
coming from or going to the United States territory, unless he can give
a full and reasonable account of himself and show that he is coming
or going in the prosecution of his lawful affairs and business, which
person shall be furnished with a passport to secure him from further
hindrance or molestation.
And I do hereby earnestly call upon all magistrates, officers, and
other loyal subjects of the Queen for their best and united exertions in
restoring the peace and tranquillity of the Province, in the prevention
of crime and disorder and in the apprehension of the guilty, and I
assure them of every support and assistance which may be required
for these purposes to the utmost extent of the civil and military power
which Her Majesty has been pleased to place in my hands.
Given under my hand and seal at arms at Toronto this 22nd day of
June in the year of our Lord 1838, of Her Majesty's reign the second.
By command of His Excellency,
GEO. ARTHUR.
0. A. HAGERMAN, Atty.-Gen.
D. CAMERON, Secy.
(From the Buffalo Daily Star, June 27th, 1838.)
PROCLAMATION.
UPPER CANADA.
By His Excellency Sir George Arthur, Knight Commander of the
Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, Lieutenant-Governor of the
Province of Upper Canada, Major-General Commanding Her
Majesty's Forces, therein.
Whereas, the body of armed rebels under the command of one
JAMES MORREAU who, on the morning of the 21st of this present month,
attacked a small advanced post of the Queen's Lancers by whom they
were most gallantly resisted, have already fled from the Militia Forces
sent m pursuit of them and are seeking to escape the consequences of
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 19
disturbing the peace and tranquillity of this Province and of their
infatuated and futile attempt to subvert our institutions.
And whereas, these parties have held out expectations of aid and
reinforcements from the inhabitants of the United States, not reflect-
ing that there are thousands of British-born subjects who, though emi-
grants to that country, preserve their attachment to their native land
and to their sovereign and who are ready, should occasion require them,
to rush forward to support the Government and put down any insur-
rection here.
And whereas, some of these insurgents have already been taken and
from the arrangements now made and from the spirit and zeal dis-
played in their pursuit by the loyal inhabitants of the country, their
escape is rendered almost impossible.
And whereas, there is reason to fear that some persons through
ignorance and others from disaffection may .harbor, conceal, or assist
these fugitives in their endeavors to escape from justice,
Now, I do hereby offer a reward of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS to any
person or persons who shall apprehend the said JAMES MORREAU
and cause him to be brought to justice, and a free pardon will be given
to any of his followers, not being ringleaders or having committed any
murder, who shall arrest and deliver up the said James Morreau.
And I do caution all persons not to harbor, conceal, or in any
manner to assist these rebels and fugitives, since by so doing they will
commit a high crime involving consequences of the most severe and
penal character.
And I do further express my warmest thanks and acknowledgments
to Her Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects whose exertions against
these criminals have rendered their efforts vain and have compelled
them to flight and dispersion, hereby assuring them that I am using
every power at my command for their safeguard and protection and
for the bringing to immediate justice the invaders of their country.
Given under my hand and seal at arms at Drummondville this
twenty-third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-eight and of Her Majesty's reign, the second.
, GEORGE ARTHUR.
By His Excellency's command,
W. H. DRAPER, Solicitor-General.
Printed by T. Sewell, Reporter office, Niagara.
(From handbill in possession of the Niagara Historical Society.)
20 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
CONFIDENTIAL CIRCULAR.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, 20th June, 1838.
SIR, — In consequence of the various and often contradictory
reports of assemblages and meetings of disaffected and evil-disposed
persons within the Province, acting in supposed concert with refugees
and vagabond foreigners beyond its limits, it has occurred to the
Lieutenant-Governor that the sheriffs in their several districts may
have it in their power by the exercise of due activity and discretion to
obtain extensive and correct information on this subject which might
be of great use to the Government.
I am therefore commanded by His Excellency to request that you
will, by means of your deputies and by communication with such loyal
subjects within your district as you may see fit to consult with, en-
deavor to gain correct intelligence of any seditious and traitorous pro-
jects or designs which may be agitated or discussed by ill-disposed
individuals and that from time to time, as occasion may warrant you,
report thereupon to me for His Excellency's information.
I beg to add that the Lt. -Governor anticipates very great advantage
from your exertions at the present moment.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN MACAULEY.
To the Sheriff of the Niagara District.
Circular letter from Alexander Hamilton, Sheriff of the Niagara
District, to certain Magistrates of that District.
QUEENSTON, 27th June, 1-838.
SIR, — In furtherance of the within communication from the Gov-
ernment House, I take the liberty of calling upon you to assist me in
carrying into effect the views of the Lt.^Governor therein expressed
and have to request that you will take every means in your power to
discover any such traitorous correspondences or meetings in your
vicinity and take such measures in conjunction with any other magis-
trate or magistrates as you may deem meet or as circumstances may
warrant, immediately reporting to me what may have been done.
L would also observe that your assistance is particularly requested
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 21
in discovering and apprehending any persons who may have been
engaged in the late insurrection at St. John's either directly or indi-
rectly by furnishing the insurgents with provisions, arms, etc., or aid-
ing or abetting them in any way ; at the same time I would recommend
that great caution may be used in the apprehension of any person
without direct or at least very strong presumptive proof of their guilt
being adduced.
I note below the names of other magistrates to whom I have also
written that all may act in concert as also with the commanding officer
of the station in your respective neighborhoods to whom the produc-
tion of this will be a sufficient authority for furnishing such military
assistance as may be required.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON,
Sheriff.
P.S. — Please acknowledge receipt of this by return mail communi-
cating with me by the same channel once or twice a week while the
present excitement prevails.
George Rykert, Esq., St. Catharines.
Henry Nelles, Esq., Grimsby.
David Thompson, Esq., York.
A. S. St. John, Esq., Dunnville.
B. Tench, Esq., Port Colborne.
J. Johnston, Esq., Humberstone.
William Smith, Esq., Fort Erie.
James Cummings, Esq., Chippawa.
John Davis, Esq., St. John's.
Duncan McFarland, Esq., Port Robinson.
\
The Toronto Patriot of July 2nd, 1838, contains a list of twenty-
four persons taken at or near the Short Hills and sent to that city.
From Connecticut.
i
Samuel Chandler, aged 48, wagonmaker.
From Pennsylvania.
James Morreau, aged 38, tanner.
William Reynolds, aged 18, saddler.
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIBTY.
From New York.
Garret Van Camp, aged 28, laborer.
Linus W. Miller, aged 20, student^at-law.
George Cooley, aged 29, farmer.
Norman Mallory, aged 23, laborer.
Loren Hedger, aged 27, blacksmith.
Solomon Kemp, aged 37, shoemaker.
From Scotland.
George Buck, aged 18, farmer.
James Gemmill, aged 22, laborer.
Murdoch McFadden, aged 19, farmer.
Canadians.
Freeman Brady, aged 21, farmer.
Robert Kelly, aged 30, blacksmith.
Ebenezer Kice, aged 48, innkeeper.
David Taylor, aged 24, farmer.
Abraham Clarke, aged 33, blacksmith.
John J. MclSTulty, aged 30, carpenter.
John Grant, aged 34, wheelwright.
Street Chase, aged 33, wagonmaker.
James Waggoner, aged 38, farmer.
Edward Seymour, aged 26, laborer.
Alexander MoLeod.
Benjamin Wait.
Hon. W. H. Draper to James Cummings at Chippawa.
TORONTO, 14th July, 1838.
MY DEAR SIR, — As the court for the trial of the Short Hills pris-
oners opens on Wednesday I am anxious to save time by having the
witnesses ready on the first day. Will you do me the favor to request
the officer in command to direct the attendance of Cornet Heath, Ser-
geant Bailey and such of the Lancers as have been used as witnesses
in the affair already ? Also two of the magistrates taking the examin-
ation should be in attendance. Such other witnesess as may be within
your reach should be notified. And if Hart and Warren are in a con-
dition to admit of their being removed they should be sent down in
THE INSURRECTION IN THE SHORT HILLS IN 1838. 23
custody to Niagara gaol. You can send a mittimus founded on their
own examinations.
I shall endeavor to have the indictment ready on the first day to
go before the grand jury.
(From original letter in my possession.)
Hon. W. H. Draper to James Cummings at Chippawa.
TORONTO, 27th July, 1838.
MY DEAR SIR, — May I beg you will see that the rifle, etc., taken
from Benjamin Wait are brought down on Wednesday. I shall also
require the presence of Kichard Savage and generally of all the wit-
nesses in the different cases. Any steps you can take to ensure their
punctual attendance will greatly facilitate the proceedings.
Morrow's execution will take place on Monday and I have no doubt
the example will be beneficial. I sincerely hope it may prevent a
recurrence of these mad attempts and give peace to the country. Most
sincerely do I trust that we shall not have any more prisoners to take
for new offences but that the punishment of those now in custody will
be the last that will be necessary.
(From original letter in my possession.)
Brooke Young to James Cummings.
CTJLDAFF COTTAGE, GUELPH,
12th Nov., 1838.
(Extract.)
You have been misinformed in the statement that " the property
of James Brown was left in my office at the Ontario House during the
examination of the Short Hills prisoners." It was a considerable time
previous to the attack upon the Lancers that James Brown was appre-
hended at the Ferry in the act of smuggling across to this side the
rifle-barrels, etc., which you have detailed in your letter. He was
brought up to Colonel Townsend and the articles taken from him in my
presence, and he was distinctly told by Colonel Townsend that they
should not be restored to him again as there was but little doubt from
his ascertained character and the illegality and suspicious nature of
the whole transaction that the implements were intended to be manu-
factured by him into arms for the use of the banditti then known to be
collecting in the immediate vicinity of Brown's residence.
(From original letter in my possession.)
IL
THE HAMILTONS OF QUEENSTON, KINGSTON AND
HAMILTON.
BY H. F. GARDINEB, BRANTFOBD.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the O. H. S. at Niagara-on-the-Lake, June 8th, 1905.)
A prominent man in Queenston a century ago was Hon. Eobert
Hamilton, descended from Alexander Hamilton, of Silverton Hill,
whose brother James, of Cadyow, having been created a Lord of Par-
liament 28th June, 1445, married Mary, eldest daughter of James the
Second, King of Scotland, and became the ancestor, through his daugh-
ter Elizabeth, of Henry Stuart, Earl of Darnley, husband of Mary
Queen of Scots, and through his son James, Earl of Arran, the ancestor
of the Dukes of Hamilton and Abercorn. The brothers, James and
Alexander Hamilton, traced their origin to Gilbert de Hameldun,
whose name occurs in the Chartulary of Paisley, 1272, and who was
the father of
Walter, who swore fealty to King Edward I. of England, 1292,
-and had two sons,
1. David, ancestor of the Dukes of Hamilton.
2. John, ancestor of the Earls of Haddington.
Fifth in descent from David were Sir James of Cadyow and Alex-
ander of Silverton Hill, above mentioned.
Tenth in descent from Alexander Hamilton of Silverton Hill was
John Hamilton, Minister of Bolton, born 1714, died 1797, who mar-
ried 'Jane Wright, and had by her three sons and one daughter.
The eldest son of the Minister of Bolton was Hon. Kobert Hamil-
ton, of Queenston, Upper Canada, who died in 1809. He is described
as a merchant of Niagara, a member of the Land Board at that place,
a member of the first Executive Council of Upper Canada in 1791, and
first Judge of the District of Nassau, which extended from the River
Trent on Bay Quinte to Long Point on Lake Erie. During the
American Revolution Mr. Hamilton, in partnership with Richard
Cartwright, established a store on Carlton Island, near the military
post which was known as Fort Haldimand, and carried on an extensive
trade with the Indians. Soon after the close of the war Mr. Hamilton
24
THE HAMILTONS OF QUEENSTON, KINGSTON AND HAMILTON. 25
removed to Queenston, and was appointed one of the local judges,
having Lieut. -Colonel John Butler as his colleague on the bench.
Captain Patrick Campbell, who visited Niagara in December,
1790, wrote : " Mr. Robert Hamilton, a gentleman of the first rank
and property in the neighborhood, and one of the Governor's Council,
came also to wait on me and invite me to his house, an honor I readily
embraced. He and Mrs. Hamilton were so very obliging as to go along
with me in their oak sled to see the grand Falls of Niagara."
When the Duke of Kent, grandfather of our present King, visited
Niagara Falls in 1791, he and his party lunched at Mr. Hamilton's
on their way back.
The Due de la Rochefoucault-Liancourt wrote in 1795 : " Mr.
Hamilton, an opulent merchant, who is concerned in the whole inland
trade of this part of America, possesses in Queen's Town a very fine
house, built in the English style ; he has also a farm, a distillery and a
tan-yard. This merchant bears an excellent character ; he is at present
in England."
The following entry is found in Mrs. Simcoe's diary, dated -at
Niagara, 30th July, 1792 : " We stopped and breakfasted at Mr. Ham-
ilton's, a merchant who lives two miles from here at the landing, where
the cargoes going to Detroit are landed and sent nine miles to Fort
Chippewa. Mr. Hamilton has <a very good stone house, the back rooms
looking on the river. A gallery, the length of the house, is a delight-
ful covered walk, both below and above, in all weather."
J. Roes Robertson writes : " Hamilton built a large stone residence
at Queenston, a brewery and a warehouse. In 1791 he was appointed
"a member of the Legislative Council, an office he retained until his
death. For some time he distinguished himself, in connection with
Mr. Cartwright, his old partner, also a member, by opposing Govern-
ment measures, thereby incurring Lieut. -Governor Simcoe's lively dis-
pleasure. In one of the Governor's despatches he denounces Hamilton
as an avowed Republican, but when it was hinted that certain privileges
would be taken away from them, the opposition ceased. Governor
Simcoe acknowledged that he had received much valuable information
respecting the commerce of the country, and particularly the Indian
trade of the far West, from Mr. Hamilton."
John Radenhurst, who was chief clerk in the office of the Surveyor-
General for many years, states, in his evidence taken before Lord
Durham's Commission in 1838, that the general price paid by specu-
lators for the two-hundred-acre lots granted to the sons and daughters
of U. E. Loyalists was from a gallon of rum up to perhaps six pounds,
26 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
and he mentions Hon. Kobert Hamilton as among the largest pur-
chasers of these lands. Mr. Hamilton's acquisitions amounted to
about one hundred thousand acres.
Dr. William Canniff says, in his " Settlement of Upper Canada,"
page 335, that when Governor Simcoe's scheme for the promotion of
higher education was under consideration the Hon. Robert Hamilton,
of Queenston, had a brother living in Scotland, and it was through him
that an offer was made first to the celebrated Dr. Chalmers. Not desir-
ing to come, he mentioned the name of his friend Strachan, to whom
the offer was then made. Mr. Strachan decided to come. Thus it was
the veteran school teacher, the divine, the founder of universities was
led to Canada to become the occupant of one of the most conspicuous
places in the Province of Upper Canada. He arrived at Kingston the
last day of the^year 1T99, haying been over four months on the way,
but when Strachan arrived Simcoe had been recalled, and his scheme
was at least in abeyance. A school was established at Kingston in
1800 by the Hon. R. Cartwright for his sons, having Mr. Strachan for
teacher, and among the other pupils were two sons of Hon. Robert
Hamilton, James and Samuel.
Hon. Robert Hamilton married, first, Mrs. Robertson, and sec-
ondly, Mrs. Catharine McLean, in whose honor the name of the Village
of Shipman's Corners was changed to St. Catharines in 1809. (See
Biography of Hon. W. H. Merritt, page 49.) By his first wife he had
five sons,
1. Robert, who married Mary Biggar and died in 1856, leaving
issue.
2. /George, of whom hereafter.
3. James, who married Catharine Warren, and had a son Henry
and a daughter Catherine.
4. Alexander, who married Hannah Owen Jarvis, and died in
1839, leaving issue.
5. Samuel.
By his second wife Hon. Robert Hamilton had three sons and one
daughter.
6. Joseph.
n. Peter Hunter, of whom hereafter.
8. John, of whom hereafter.
9. Mary.
I THE HAMILTONS OF QUEKNSTON, KINGSTON AND HAMILTON. 27
George Hamilton, who died in 1836, married Maria Lavinia
Jarvis, who was born 31st December, 1788, and died 13th May, 1829.
She was the eldest daughter of William Jarvis, Provincial Secretary
of Upper Canada under Governor Simcoe/born 1756, died 1817, a
native of Stamford, Connecticut, the fifth son of Samuel Jarvis and
his wife Martha Seymour. William Jarvis rose from Ensign to
Colonel in the Queen's Rangers, or First American Regiment, that
commanded by John Graves Simcoe. He married December 12th,
1785, Miss Hannah Owen Peters, daughter of Dr. Peters, an Epis-
copal clergyman of Hebron, Conn. The children of George Hamilton
were:
1. Robert Jarvis, born 1812, died 1892.
2. Catharine Hannah.
3. Samuel Askin.
4. Maria, who married W. H. Fitzgerald and had issue.
5. George.
6. Augusta Hannah.
7. Catharine, who married Samuel Black Freeman and had issue.
8. Caroline Augusta, who married Alfred Boultbee and had issue.
A paper written by one of George Hamilton's granddaughters
states that when the war of 1812 broke out he was living at Magara-on-
the-Lake with his wife, and deeming the frontier town an unsafe place
of residence, they moved to the head of Lake Ontario. " The young
mother, with her baby boy (Robert 'Jarvis Hamilton) in her arms,
rode on horseback all through the bridle paths, till they reached the
haven of refuge on the mountain side above the beautiful waters of
Burlington Bay, and on the spot now occupied by the handsome resi-
dence of Samuel Barker, Esq. (M.P.), the young couple built their
log house, a house long famed for its generous hospitality, where even
the red men of the forest were welcome guests. George Hamilton was
what we would call to-day a public-spirited man, and took a deep
interest in those about him. He laid out a number of streets in the
town and presented to that corporation the Court House Square, the
Wood Market (on John street), and our pretty little Gore Park on
King street. He was for a number of years the Treasurer of the Coun-
ties of Wentworth and Halton and took an active part in the politics
of the day, being for a long period a member of the Parliament of
Upper Canada. He served in the militia in the war of 1812, holding
J;he rank of Captain."
28 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The reference to the log house is a bit of poetic license. Mr.
Durand occupied a house on that site before Mr. Hamilton's arrival.
Charles Durand, who was born in that house in 1811, and who
knew Mr. Hamilton well, writes: " ]STo account of the early settlers of
Hamilton would be complete without the mention of George Hamilton,
who for over a quarter of a century was the best known man in
_ Hamilton."
His townspeople have not been unmindful of -his services. In
Hamilton cemetery, that beautiful City of the Dead, situated where
Harvey and Vincent had their camp on Burlington Heights when the
decisive battle of Stoney Creek was fought, June 5th, 1813, there stands
in the vicinity of the chapel a handsome monument of polished granite,
erected to his memory in 1894 by the Corporation of the City of Ham-
ilton. What his descendants love best to remember of him was his
kindness to the poor and needy. No suppliant was ever turned from
his door. The late Major Glasgow told the following story about him :
" In the year 1832 a party of immigrants sailed slowly up the Bay,
tired and worn by their long voyage from the Old Land and longing to
set their feet once more on the green grass, dreading a longer stay on
their infected vessel, for the deadly cholera had sadly thinned their
numbers ; but as they near the desired haven a new difficulty confronts
them. A crowd of townspeople opposed their landing for fear of the
dreadful scourge. In this dilemma, a Christian gentleman stepped
forth with, ( Friends, we cannot leave these women and children cooped
up in yonder boat to die ; let us go to work and build them a shelter,
and supply their necessities.' That man was George Hamilton. Many
hands made light work, and temporary houses were soon erected for
the grateful strangers."
George Hamilton had not been long the owner of property in
Barton Township before the Gore District was formed, with the Town
of Hamilton as its capital. His own residence was close to the base of
_ the " Mountain," on what is now called John street. Then the high-
way from Niagara to Ancaster followed the line of King street (called
the Eidge Eoad, because it kept to the driest ground) and thence along
John street up the Mountain. There was a road allowance, but no
road, on James street. The first village lots sold by Mr. Hamilton
were on John street, south of King. They belonged to farm lot No.
14, 3rd concession of Barton Township.
The writer has seen a memorandum, in George Hamilton's hand-
writing, relating to the transfers and titles of the property he acquired
THE HAMILTONS OF QUEENSTON, KINGSTON AND HAMILTON. 29
on the site of the present City of Hamilton, from which the following
items (without the explanatory notes) are taken:
" Transfer part Lot 11, 4th concession, Barton, 24 acres, 2 roods, 14
perches, John Wedge to James Durand, dower barred, not registered,
wife not party." (John Wedge patented 200 acres on the Mountain,
south of the Land and Aikman properties, the patents being dated
May 17, 1802.)
" Transfer of Lot No. 12, 4th concession, Barton, 100 acres land,
Philip and Ann Kribbs to James Durand, dower barred, registered,
King's deed wanted."
" King's deed for Lot No. 14, 3rd concession, Barton, 100 acres,
to Daniel Springer." (That is the farm bounded by the following
streets in Hamilton: Main, James, Aberdeen avenue and the line
Mary street would cover if it were extended south of King street to
the Mountain.)
" Transfer of Lot No. 14, 3rd concession, no receipt, Daniel
Springer to John Springer, registered, dower not barred, wife not
party except signature." (The Crown patent for Lot No. 14, 3rd
concession, to Daniel Springer, is dated May 17, 1802.)
" Transfer of part Lot No. 14, 27 acres, no receipt, John Springer
to Thomas Dexter." (It would appear as if this land was transferred
from owner to owner before the issue of the Crown patent, for " The
History of Barton Lodge " says, page 127, that " meetings were held
at Brother Aikman'8 until the 12th of March, 1802, at which time
the lodge was removed to the house of Brother Dexter, at the forks
made by the old road, which turns to the right shortly after the ascent
of the Mountain is begun, and the new road, which turns to the left."
Robertson's " History of Freemasonry " says, page 665, that the house
of Mr. Dexter was on the site of Barker's residence, on upper John
street, Hamilton.)
17 Transfer of part Lot No. 14, 3rd concession, Barton, 27 acres,
Thomas Dexter to James Durand."
" Transfer of the above lots of land (and others not here men-
tioned), in all 257 acres, 2 roods, 14 perches, James Durand to George
Hamilton, not registered, wife not party, nor dower barred." (It
would appear that Hamilton bought out all Durand's belongings in
that neighborhood.)
30 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Samuel Barker, Esq., M.P., lias kindly supplied the following
abstract from the papers in his possession :
Lot 14, 3rd concession, Barton, 100 acres.
1. The Crown to Daniel Springer, 17th May, 1802.
Daniel Springer, son of a U. E. Loyalist, was grantee of the Crown
of 100 acres, being Lot No. 14, 3rd concession, Barton, then in the
County of Lincoln, later in the County of Wentworth.
2. Daniel Springer to John Springer, 2nd April, 1803.
Daniel Springer, of Delaware, London District, to John Springer,
of Barton, County of Lincoln, in consideration of £50, grants and
conveys 100 acres, more or less, composed of Lot 14, in the 3rd con-
cession of Barton.
] . !
3. John Springer to Thomas Dexter, 10th November, 1803, two
portions of Lot 14.
John_Springer, of Barton, husbandman, to Thomas Dexter, of
Barton, innkeeper, in consideration of £120, grants two parcels of
land, part of the 100-acre lot 14, in the 3rd concession of Barton.
First parcel, 13 ac., lr., 5p., more or less, commencing at a post
marked E S over T S planted at the foot of the Mountain and about
fifty links on the east side of the old road leading to Niagara, thence
to the corner of the said Thomas Dexter's fence, near his
dwelling house, etc.
Second parcel, 14 acres, more or less, beginning at a stake marked
W W over T D, planted near «a white oak tree, about three rods north-
erly of a cluster of basswood trees, growing on the western limits of the
said Lot 14, thence along the said to a post planted in the
western side of a spring run, which passes by the still house, thence
to a stake in the lane passing by the said dwelling-house, etc.
4. Thomas Dexter to James Durand, 7th April, 1806, the same
two portions of Lot 14.
Thomas Dexter, late of the Township of Barton, husbandman, to
James Durand, of the Township of Woodhouse, County of Norfolk
and District of London, merchant, in consideration of £312 10s.,
grants the same two parcels of land as mentioned above.
5. John Springer to James Durand, 28th Dec., 1803, 8 acres,
part of Lot 14.
John Springer, of Barton, yeoman, to James Durand, of the
THE HAMILTONS OF QUEENSTON, KINGSTON AND HAMILTON. 31
Township of Stamford, County of Lincoln, merchant, in considera-
tion of £40 5s., grants eight acres, etc.
6. John Springer to James Durand, 24th Jan., 1815, Lot 14, 3rd
concession, Barton, in consideration of £1 5s. and of facts recited.
John Springer to James Durand, after reciting, " Whereas a deed
of B and S for Lot No. 14, in the 3rd concession of Barton, in the
District of Niagara, Province of Upper Canada, was entered into
between me, J. S., of, etc., yeoman, and Sarah, my wife, of the one
part, and James Durand, of the same place, gentleman, of the other
part, the full consideration money for which parcel or tract of land I,
the said John Springer, and Sarah, my wife, acknowledge to have
received from the said J. D., and whereas in consequence of the state
of warfare between Great Britain and the United States of America
the deed from me, the said John Springer, and Sarah, my wife, to the
said James Durand, for the said Lot No. 14, in the 3rd concession of
the Township of Barton, is supposed to be lost and the office of enreg-
istration destroyed, and I, the said John Springer, and Sarah, my wife,
being called upon to secure the title of the said premises to the said
James Durand, by reconveying the said premises," therefore, the said
Springer and wife, in consideration of the further sum of 25 shillings,
grant and confirm unto the said James Durand, his heirs and assigns
forever, all that parcel (the land described and conveyed is the same
as that in above memo). Note. — The destruction of the Lincoln
County Registry Office during the war doubtless gave a deal of trouble
to land-owners.
7. James Durand and Keziah, his wife, to George Hamilton, 25th
January, 1815.
James Durand, of Barton, and wife, to George Hamilton, late of
the town of Queenston, but now of Barton, gentleman, in considera-
tion of £1,750, grant 257 acres, 2 roods, 14 perches, being composed of:
1st — 100 acres, being Lot 12 in 4th concession, Barton. (Philip
Crips, or Kribbs, was patentee of Lots 12 and 13, 4th concession, Bar-
ton, August 10th, 1801.)
2nd — 100 acres, being — here follows description of Lot 14 in 3rd
concession, Barton, as above.
3rd — Also one other parcel, 19 acres, being part of Lot No. 13 in
3rd concession, Barton.
4th — Also part of Lot 11 in 4th concession, Barton.
32 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The records of the purchases by George Hamilton will give an idea
of land values ninety years ago.
George Hamilton lived to see the village which he had founded
become quite a flourishing and important town, doing a large trade
with the interior in goods brought to the head of the lake by boat.
On his death, Kobert Jarvis Hamilton became head of the family,
married, first, Catharine Kobertson, and, secondly, Mary Wright. His
children by his first wife were:
1. William, who married Mary Myles.
2. Catharine, who married Dr. Charles Donnelly.
3. Agnes, who married Charles Lemon.
4. Henry.
5. Jessie, who married Dr. 'James Alway.
The children by his second wife were :
6. George, who married Anna Hunter.
7. Maria, who married F. S. O'Connor.
8. Caroline.
9. John Harvey, who married Annie Farmer.
10. Jean Chalmers, who married Charles Wellesley Kicketts.
11. Augusta Mary.
12. May.
Robert Jarvis Hamilton was a prominent and influential citizen
of Hamilton, but he did not, like his father, aspire to Parliamentary
honors. George Hamilton represented Wentworth in the Upper Cana-
dian Legislature from 1821 to 1830, when he was succeeded by Allan
Napier MacNab.
Peter Hunter Hamilton, a half-brother of George, acquired Lot
_ !No. 15 in the 3rd concession of Barton, which had been patented from
the Crown by Lieut. Caleb Reynolds, March 19th, 1798. The pro-
perty is now included by James, Main, Bay and Aberdeen Streets in
the City of Hamilton. This farm was mortgaged to the Government
as collateral security for a loan to the Desjardins Canal Company, in
the thirties, and nearly seventy years later a cloud was cast upon the
titles of a lot of valuable property, the loan having never been repaid.
Peter H. Hamilton's, house was on the site of the residence of William
Hendrie, senior, on Bold Street. He married, in 1824, Harriett
Durand, daughter of James Durand, and sister of Charles Durand,
Esq., barrister, who is still living in Toronto, aged .94. He had eleven
children.
THE HAMILTONS OF QUEENSTON, KINGSTON AND HAMILTON. 33
A full brother of Peter Hunter Hamilton was Hon. John Hamil-
ton, of Kingston, born at Queenston, 1802, died 1882. He was the
youngest son of Hon. Robert Hamilton. After a short time at school
at Queenston, he was sent to Edinburgh, where he received a classical
training at the Academy. At the age of sixteen he was back in
Canada. He served an apprenticeship in the wholesale warehouse of
DeEiver, Blackwood & Co., Montreal, and returned to Queenston,
where he entered upon the business of building and running steam-
boats. He owned, though he did not build, the Frontenac, the first
steamer that plied on the waters of Lake Ontario. The fare from
Kingston to York (Toronto) was £3, with £1 more to Queenston, and
an extra charge of five shillings was made for a dog. Mr. Hamilton
built the Queenston, the Great Britain, the Lord Syderiham (which
was the first large boat that ever ran the rapids), the Passport, Canada,
Kingston, and Sovereign; and he chartered many others. For a long
time he even made a determined fight against the Grand Trunk Rail-
way, which became a competitor for the carrying trade of Upper
Canada. John Hamilton also maintained a line of stage coaches. He
was called to the Legislative Council in 1831, and served continuously
in the Upper House for more than fifty years. In 1881 his colleagues
in the Senate of Canada presented him with a complimentary address,
which was read by Sir Alexander Campbell. He was chairman of the
Board of Trustees of Queen's College from its incorporation in 1841
until his death. Senator Hamilton's figure was large and well knit;
his countenance was marked by singular dignity and benevolence.
Intelligence and refinement shone there, and were characteristic also
of his manners and conversation. He married in early life Frances
Pasia, daughter of David Macpherson, of Inverness, Scotland, by
whom he had ten children, several of whom lived to occupy influential
positions.
Thus we see that the history of the Canadian branch of the noble
family of Hamilton began before the organization of Upper Canada
as a separate province, and its members had much to do with the devel-
opment and progress of the country. The living descendants of Hon.
Robert Hamilton are very numerous, and at the meeting of the Ontario
Historical Society in this place it is appropriate that a word should
be spoken concerning them and their achievements.
III.
•THE PETinSTS.
BY LIEUT.-COLONEL G. W. BRUCE, PBESIDENT HUBON INSTITUTE.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the 0. H. S. at Colling wood, July 20th, 1906.)
Much of the scant material from which the story of the Petun
Indians may be drawn has already been utilized by Mr. Connolly, Mr.
Boyle, Dean Harris and others who have contributed to the Archaeo-
logical Reports for Ontario. All, therefore, that I propose to do, in
the present paper, is to give a short outline of the history and national
life of the Tobacco Nation, compiled from the stray references of the
Jesuit missionaries, the few essays of recent writers, and the traditions
of the scattered remnants of the Petuns themselves, and of their suc-
cessors in the Blue Mountain country, the Ojibways, verified by very
incomplete explorations made on the ground where they had attained
their highest civilization.
According to the earliest traditions of the Petuns, they came orig-
inally from the region known to us as Ungava. They seem to have a
hazy national sub-consciousness of long journeys by land and sea, and
of intercourse with the little Arctic people, which may point to an
early migration from the old world by way of the Aleutian Islands
and Alaska. It was not, however, until the time of their residence in
Ungava that, as part of the great Huron-Iroquois group of nations,
they attained to anything like a settled national life. They called
themselves, then and ever after, the Turtle People, and claimed
descent from the great turtle on whose back Ataensic obtained a van-
tage point from which to make the earth.
Long before the white man came to the continent, the whole group
of nations had migrated southward and taken possession of the banks
of the St. Lawrence. The Senecas occupied the South bank and the
Island of Montreal; the Turtle People held the North bank, from the
Ottawa to the Manicougan Eiver; while the closely allied Algonquin
nations settled on either side of them — the Ottawas to the Westward,
along the Ottawa River, and the Delewares to the Eastward, as far as
the mouth of the St. Lawrence. Here the Turtle People were known
as Tionontates or Kionontates, the name meaning " The waters rush-
ing by," or " The country of the rushing waters." The Indians
who met Cartier at Hochelaga were Senecas and Tionontates.
34
THE PETUNS. 35
Here they had dwelt together in peace for some hundreds of years,
but soon after the visit of C artier trouble began. As sometimes hap-
pens, «a woman was at the bottom of it. A Kiononta brave fell in love
with a Seneca woman, and, as a slight token of his affection, murdered
some Senecas against whom his sweetheart had a clan feud. This
brought on a war which lasted for more than a generation and in-
volved not only the Tionontates, but their allies, the Ottawas, as well.
A few of the Tionontates, however, refused to take part in the quarrel
and migrated westward to the Niagara Peninsula, whence they
extended northward and westward, and were afterwards known as the
Neutrals. The war went hard against the Northern allies, and first
the Ottawas, and then a large part of the Tionontates were driven out.
The Ottawas found a home in Northern Michigan; the Tionontates
settled in the district between Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay and
became afterwards known as the Hurons. The remainder of the
Tionontates carried on the war with varying success for many years,
but at last, wearied of the strife, decided to join their kinsmen, the
Neutrals. They crossed the river at Kingjston, and, following the
southern shore of Lake Ontario, reached the Niagara River. Here
they remained in peace for some length of time, for the Senecas, who
'had followed them, had found attractive hunting grounds on the banks
of the Hudson Eiver. However, as these latter spread throughout the
State of New York they began to press upon the Neutral country, and
the Neutrals, true to their policy of peace, urged the Tionontates to
move on. They therefore crossed the Niagara and travelled around
the head of Lake Ontario eastward to Toronto, where they spent five
or ten years of the greatest prosperity, and gave the name Toronto, or
Land of Plenty, to their new home. They did not remain long unmo-
lested. Their active foes across the lake soon compelled them to make
another migration northward and westward, where they came in con-
tact with the Hurons and Algonquins, from whom they finally wrested
the eastern slopes of the Blue Mountains, in the present Counties of
Grey and Simcoe.
After the war of conquest they lived at peace with their Huron and
Algonquin neighbors and cultivated the arts of peace so assiduously
that by the middle of the seventeenth century they had attained a much
higher point of wealth, prosperity and civilization than iany of their
kindred people. They found their new country particularly adapted
for growing and curing tobacco and made this, after the raising of
Indian corn, their chief industry. Hence, they became known to the
Jesuit missionaries and to the Hurons as the Tobacco or Petun Nation.
When they came to the Mountains the Turtle People were divided
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
into nine clans, or, more correctly speaking, gentes, taking their
totems from the animals from whom they claimed descent, namely, the
Big Turtle, the Little Turtle, the Mud Turtle, the Beaver and the
Porcupine, which formed one division or brotherhood of clans; the
Deer, the Bear, the Snake, and the Hawk, which formed another
brotherhood; and the Wolf, which formed a brotherhood of itself, and
bore the relation of cousinship with each of the others.
Marriages never took place between members of the same brother-
hood, but a Turtle might marry a Wolf, or a Porcupine marry a Bear.
The children were of the clan of their mother. As I have said, they
all called themselves the Turtle People and the Turtle clans were con-
sidered the most ancient and honorable of all. The head chiefship was
originally held by the Turtles, but before the nation came to the St.
Lawrence this distinction had passed to the Deer clan, who were by
far the most populous and powerful of all the clans. The Wolf clan
held the position of mediator or advisers between the others and took
direction of affairs of state. They were the politicians and great exec-
utive officers. The Deer People were the warriors of the nation par
excellence, and with the Porcupines and Hawks bore the brunt of
battle. The Bear clan were famous hunters and the Beavers claimed
superiority as builders. Two other clans, the Striped Turtle and the
Highland Turtle, afterwards grew out of the Big Turtle and Mud
Turtle clans, respectively. A subdivision of the Deer family took the
Snake as its totem and formed a new clan, thus bringing the total
number of clans up to twelve. When the nation was on the move from
one place to another they always moved under the direction of the
Wolf clan and encamped in the form of a Turtle, the Wolfs reserving
to themselves the place of the head of the Turtle, or the centre of the
place of encampment, the others being arranged from right to left
looking outwards in the following order — Big Turtle, Little Turtle,
Mud Turtle, Bear, Beaver, Deer, Porcupine, Striped Turtle, High-
land Turtle, Snake, Hawk. When they reached the Mountains the
Wolfs, being directors, and at the same time good politicians, chose
for themselves the valley where Creemore now rests and the slope of
the hills which encircle it on the south, west and north. They
assigned to the aristocratic Turtles the place of honor towards the
south, the direction from which they had come, and laid out the tradi-
tional encampment as much as possible in the shape of a Turtle, send-
ing the Bear and the Beaver to the west and bringing the Deer and
Porcupine round to their left flank, facing their most recent enemies,
the Hurons.
The western clans, not finding the country allotted to them the
THE PETUNS. 37
most suitable, nearly all moved northwards and took up their encamp-
ments along the shore of Georgian Bay amongst the Algonquin vil-
lages, as far northwards as the Bruce Peninsula, thus gradually chang-
ing the form of the national encampment from that of a turtle to that
of a snake. Thereafter, in all their migrations they moved, as they
said, " on the trail of the snake."
When they first settled on the Mountains, they were formed into
villages according to their clans and naming the villages after the totem
of the clan. In process of time, however, it is evident that through
inter-marriages there would be perhaps as many of Turtle and
Wolf clans in the Deer village as there would be of the Deer
clan itself, and the name of the village, therefore, would be no
indication of the clans residing within its limits — each village
might have members of all the clans. At the head of each clan was
a chief. He was, however, merely princeps inter pares, for all
questions of importance were decided in village council, to which
even the women were admitted. There was also a war chief appointed
in council as occasion arose. In times of peace this position was
assumed by the heir presumptive or probable successor of the clan
chief, an arrangement which generally secured a smooth succession.
A sort of national unity was attempted to be preserved by occasional
conferences of all the chiefs, which were held at the headquarters of
the Deer clan. But these conferences were probably nothing more
than visits of ceremony, for there is no record or tradition of any
national question being decided or even discussed at any of these
conferences.*
At the time the Petuns became known to the Jesuit missionaries
there were nine villages, to which the missionaries gave names as fol-
lows: St. Pierre -and St. Paul, St. Simon and St. Jude, St. Andre,
St. Jacques, St. Thomas, St. Jean, St. Jacques et St. Philippe, St.
Bartholomew, St. Matthias. At the Wolf village at Creemore was
established the Mission of St. Jean, called by the Hurons, Etherita,
meaning, " the ever principal drying place." The slopes of the hills
about Creemore were especially adapted to the curing of tobacco, and
this industry was undertaken by them to a larger extent than by any
of the other villages. In the Deer village was established the Mission of
*0n Lot 33, Concession 11, of the Township of Nottawasaga, now owned by Mr.
Alexander Currie, when the land was first cleared, were found twenty-four stones of nearly
equal size, about sixteen inches high, placed at regular intervals in the form of an ellipse
about thirty feet in length from east to west. On the stones were rudely carved figures of
animals. Unfortunately the stones were built into a river embankment and cannot be
identified or examined. Might it be possible that these stones, adorned with the totems
of the twelve clans, represented the twenty-four chiefs of the nation, and were used as
ceremonial seats in the national conference ?
38
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
St. Matthias, known to the Hurons as Ekarrenniondi.* These were
the only important missions of the Jesuits among the Petuns.
In December, 1649, the Wolf People at Creemore heard that the
Iroquois were on the war path and -about to attack them. The Iro-
quois had burnt several of the Huron villages and their custom had
been to raid the Huron country and fall back southwards towards
their base. The Petuns therefore expected that they would make the
raid into their country also from the south, and on hearing news of
the expedition, sent word to the Deer and Northern clans, and them-
selves gathered all their warriors and set out southward by the Turtle
villages at Glencairn and Alliston, to meet the foe. Their scouting
service and their intelligence department must have been very bad,
however, for the Iroquois came from the direction of Orillia and
made their attack from the east. Having learned from some captives
that the Wolf warriors had gone off to the south, they raided the vil-
lage, massacred all the inhabitants, and destroyed the immense grain
* I am unable to agree with the learned Father Jones who, in a well-reasoned article
in the Archaeological Report of Ontario for 1902, has identified the Ekarrenniondi of
the Hurons with the rock on the townline between Nottawasaga and Osprey, for the
following reasons: (1) The rock in question, although perhaps forty feet high and
fifteen feet square, is not a striking object among its surroundings and being only a
detail amongst a mass of rocks of greater proportions would not strike the imagination
of the Indians so as to induce them to call it particularly "the rock that stands out."
(2) It is too far away from the site of the village which is located beyond all conjecture
on Lot 33 in the llth Concession of Nottawasaga on the banks of Pretty River. (3) The
arguments by which the rock is identified apply equally as well to a number of rocks all
along the brow of the mountain from Lot 27 to the lake shore. At first I was inclined
to agree with Mr. Birch (who contributes a paper to the Archaeological Report for 1903)
that Ekarrenniondi is to be found on Lot 14, Concession 2, Collingwood, where there
are remains of an important Indian village and where there is a rock of more massive and
striking proportions immediately dominating the village. Then, from where we stand in
the town of Collingwood it would seem natural to suppose that the bluff of the mountain
range which runs out into the lake might well be called by the Hurons "the rock that
stands out," and be a more striking object from a distance than any single rock of forty
feet high. There has been discovered, too, near Craigleitb, beneath this point the remains
of a large Indian village of which no detailed explorations have yet been made. But these
latter points would not agree with the distances given by the early writers, nor does their
location fit in with the details of the journeys undertaken by the missionaries. But
neither of these latter villages, from their location or from their remains which have been
found, can compare in importance with the village on the banks of the Pretty river.
Besides, there are strongly defined marks of a great trail eastward from the Pretty river
towards the land of the Hurons. This trail was well known to the white settlers as
recently as fifty years ago for several miles. I have no doubt that it can still be traced
across the Nottawasaga into Huronia. Now, from Ossossane, and indeed from every part
of the Tiny shore and far inland, there is one point of the Blue Mountains that can be seen
distinctly ; even when the bluff end of the mountains fades into mist and flatness, this
point is clearly defined. It is a white limestone escarpment, free of vegetation, at the
very highest point of the hills. This point is immediately to the west and overlooks the
village on Lot 33. A person leaving Ossossane, and heading for this point, would, without
any trail, reach the village at its foot. It is ranch more striking forty miles away than
near at hand. What more natural than that the Hurons should have called this village
by the.name of the landmark by which it was reached—" Ekarrenniondi " ("the rock that
stands out")?
THE PETUNS. 39
pits of corn and storehouses of tobacco, leaving the entire village a
smoking desolation.*
From Etherita the Iroquois moved northward along the mountain
slope as far as Ekarrenniondi, which they found deserted, and, fear-
ing an ambuscade, they set their faces towards the Huron country.
We do not read of any further molestations of the Petuns by the
Iroquois, who thereafter directed their attention solely to the Hurons,
but they never recovered from the crushing effect of the Iroquois raid.
The head of the snake had been crushed, and though the tail was yet
alive and nearly the whole nation remained intact, yet such was the
moral influence of the Iroquois terror that, shortly after, the nation,
joined by a few of the Huron refugees, set forth again on the " trail
of the snake " and reached Detroit. After some time they went down
into the Ohio country and there remained until the advancing white
civilization again drove them westward to Kansas, where the remnant
of the once great Tobacco Nation now awaits, under the name of
Wyandots, its certain, if deferred, extinction.
Even from the history of an obscure tribe of Indians mankind may
learn the lesson that the Arts of Peace alone will not preserve a nation.
The Petuns had been so long untroubled by foreign wars, had grown
so wealthy and comparatively luxurious, and had attained such heights
of civilization, as to consider war unnecessary, useless and improb-
able, so that when the first hostile breath of the more barbarous
Iroquois touched them, the whole fabric of their nation seemed to
collapse. If all mankind advanced equally along the paths of peace
and civilization, there would be no need of preparation for war, but
as the world now is, those who most desire peace and most appreciate
its blessings must remember to guard well what they have achieved,
and must stay their progress, even in civilization, to protect themselves
from the blood lust of those not so far advanced; otherwise the fruit
of centuries may be lost in a day, and human progress blocked by the
recurring night of barbarism.
* On Lot 5, Concession 4, and on Lot 8, Concession 5, of the Township of Nottawasaga
have been found immense ossuaries, consisting mostly of the bones of women and children,
where must have been buried by the returning warriors of the Wolf clan the unfortunate
victims of the Iroquois madness. On Lot 10, Concession 5, has been found an immense
ash heap about four feet deep containing great quantities of charred Indian corn, no doubt
the remains of one of the vast communal granaries.
IV.
THE NOTTAWASAGA RIVER ROUTE.
BY G. K. MILLS, B.A., SCHOOL INSPECTOR, NOBTH SIMCOE.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the 0. H. S. at Collingwood, July 20th, 1906.)
From the earliest times of which we have any record in Canada
there have heen four great highways leading from the great West to
the early settlement at Montreal.
The first of these led from the great hunting grounds of the coun-
try which is now Michigan and the plains of the West by way of
Machilimacinac and Detroit, through Lakes Erie and Ontario, and
down the St. Lawrence Kiver.
The second in importance was by way of Sault Ste. Marie and
Machilimacinac along the north-eastern shore of Lake Huron and
the Georgian Bay, up the French Eiver to Lake Nipissing, by a
portage to the Mattawa, and thence down the Ottawa River over
numerous portages to Montreal.
The third was from the Georgian Bay to Lake Suncoe by the
Severn River, and thence by numerous portages, through the chain of
lakes to the Trent River and the Bay of Quinte.
The last was from the Georgian Bay by the Nottawasaga River,
over what was known later as the Nine Mile Portage, across Lake
Simcoe to the Holland River, then by a long portage to the Humber
River, from which Lake Ontario was reached, near where Toronto now
stands. It is with this last route that we are particularly interested.
About 1672, De Courcelles established a trading post at Cataracoui
(afterwards Frontenac), and in 1679 La Salle established another
at the mouth of the Niagara River, called Fort Niagara. These
trading posts were shortly afterwards strongly fortified, and enabled
the French to withstand the efforts of the Iroquois to drive them out
of the country.
In 1722 Governor Burnett, of the Province of New York, estab-
lished a trading post on the west side of the entrance to the Oswego
River, and, following the example of the French, he afterwards trans-
formed the trading post into a strong fortress. As was to be expected,
there was a keen competition for the Indian trade, but as the English
gave a better price for furs, many of the Indians passed by Fort
Niagara and Fort Frontenac to trade with the English at Choueguen
40
THE NOTTAWASAGA RIVER ROUTE. 41
(Oswego). The effect of this English trading post was felt to such
an extent at Forts Niagara and Frontenac that an effort was made
to destroy its trade. The Governor of New France at that time, Count
de la Galissoniere, on being informed that the Indians of the north
made their way to Choueguen by way of Toronto, twenty-five leagues
from Niagara and seventy-five from Frontenac, thought it advisable to
establish a trading post at that point. This was done in 1749, and
instructions were issued to the commandants at Detroit, Niagara and
Frontenac to furnish goods for two or three years to come at the same
rate as the English. By this means it was thought that the Indians
would abandon the English trading post, since it necessitated a further
journey of at least twenty-five leagues to reach it.
The trading post established at the " Toronto Pass "* in 1749 was
named Fort Rouille, after Antoine Louis Rouille, Colonial Minister
of France, 1749-1754. It was commonly referred to as " the fort at
Toronto," and was situated close to the lake shore, about two and a
half miles east of the mouth of the Toronto River (Humber River),
which river was said to communicate with Lake Huron by a portage of
fifteen leagues.
This trading post was burned in 175.9 by the French to prevent
its falling into the hands of the English. Its site is now the Industrial
Exhibition Grounds, and the exact location of the trading post is
marked by a monument in the form of a plain, rounded shaft of Credit
Valley sandstone about thirty feet high, erected in 1887 and unveiled
on the 6th of September, on the opening day of the combined Domin-
ion and Local Industrial Exhibition at Toronto by the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Governor-General of Canada. On the north side of the
pedestal appears the following inscription:
FORT TORONTO
AN INDIAN TRADING POST
FOR SOME TIME KNOWN AS FORT ROUILLE
WAS ESTABLISHED HERE
A.D. MDCCXLIX.
BY ORDER OF LOUIS XV.
*The Indian term "Taronto" denotes "the place of meeting" or "the populous
region," and refers to the thickly populated region lying between Lake Simcoe and the
Georgian Bay, the great rendezvous of the Huron or Wyandot tribes down to the time
of their destruction by the Iroquois in 1649. The Humber was known as the "Taronto
River," Lake Simcoe as " Lake Taronto," the chain of lakes lying between the River
Trent and Lake Simcoe as the "Taronto Lakes," Matchedash Bay, at the mouth of the
Severn River, was known as "Taronto Bay," and the Severn River itself as "Taronto
River," indicating that they were all of them highways to the great internal central
rendezvous or "place of meeting" of the Huron tribes.
42 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
About a mile and a quarter east of the mouth of the Humber River
are to be found traces of the old Indian trail, which, following the
valley of the Humber for several miles, crosses the height of land
known as " The Ridges," and leads directly to the Holland River,
which it reaches about four miles from its mouth at a place known
later as the Upper Landing. This Indian trail is commemorated in
Toronto by the winding driveway known as the Indian Road. The
distance from the mouth of the Humber to the landing on the Holland
River is about thirty miles, although when the Humber was navigable
this was shortened somewhat.
La Hontan (1703) says: "You can pass from Lake Frontenac,
i.e., Lake Ontario, into Lake Huron by the River Tun-a-hou-ate (the
Humber) by a portage of about twenty-four miles to Lake Toronto
(Lake Simcoe), which by a river of the same name empties into Lake
Huron, i.e., by the River Severn."
Entering Lake Simcoe by the Holland River there were three
routes by which Lake Huron was reached. The first of these, and
perhaps the usual canoe route, especially in the fall of the year, when
storms might be expected on the lake, was by the Severn River. This
was the longest, and necessitated seven short portages before reaching
the bay at the mouth.
The second route, described in Smith's Gazetteer of 1799 as " a
good path," and the " nearest way to Lake Huron," led from the bay
west of Francis Island, later known as Shingle Bay, to Matchedash
Bay. This trail was known later as the Coldwater Trail, and is repre-
sented to-day as the Coldwater Road.
The third route is the one to which this paper relates, and is de-
scribed thus in the Gazetteer of 1799: "To the westward is a deep
bay (Kempenfeldt Bay), from the head of which is a short carrying
place to the Nottawasaga River, which empties itself into the Iroquois
Bay in Lake Huron." The Iroquois Bay is the same as the Notta-
wasaga Bay, a term said to mean the "River of the Nodaway," the
great indentation from whence so often issued, on marauding expedi-
tions, the canoes of the " Nodaway," as the Ochibways called the
Iroquois.
The south-eastern terminus of the portage was near the present
railway depot of Barrie, but the town itself had no existence. Its site
was a forest wilderness, nor were there any Indian inhabitants within
several miles. During the war of 1812-15 the portage was widened
so that wagons could cross it to transport supplies on their way to the
THE NOTTAWASAGA RIVER ROUTE. 43
Government posts of the Upper Lakes. It was about nine miles in
length and came to be familiarly known as the Nine Mile Portage.
There is mention of the route by the Nottawasaga River, across
the Nine Mile Portage and Lake Simcoe to the Holland River, and
thence overland to near the mouth of the Humber, in records dating
back more than two centuries and a half. This was one of the routes
by which the Iroquois in 1648-49 invaded the territory of the Hurons,
which lay north and west between Lake Simcoe and the Georgian Bay.
La Salle, with twenty men, passed over this route in 1680 on his way
from Fort Frontenac to Machilimacinac. But it is only from the war
of 1812-15 that we have any connected account of it.
On July 17th, 1812, Machilimacinac was taken from the Americans
by the British, and realizing that it was the key to the upper lakes they
made preparations to recapture it. When information regarding these
preparations reached the small British garrison at Machilimacinac,
word was at once sent to Kingston for assistance. A relief expedition
consisting of ten officers and two hundred picked men, twenty artillery-
men, a lieutenant and twenty men of the Royal Navy, all under the
command of Lieut.-Col. Robert McDowall, of the Glengarry Light
Infantry, left Kingston in February, 1814. They made their way
through what was yet almost a wilderness to Toronto, and from there
marched north along Yonge Street, which had been opened about 1795,
to Holland Landing. They crossed Lake Simcoe on the ice and halted
on the banks of the Nottawasaga River a short distance below where
Marl Creek flows into it. Here they built for themselves a number
of wooden huts, and spent the time until the ice on the river broke up
in constructing twenty-nine bateaux, the timber for which they found
growing abundantly in the surrounding pine forest. The clearing they
made was for many years a landmark known as the " Glengarry Land-
ing/' but a second growth of trees now covers the spot so completely
as to make it almost indistinguishable from the surrounding forest.
The expedition left here on the 22nd day of April, and descending
the river they reached the mouth, a distance of about thirty miles, on
the afternoon of the 24th. They left next morning to cross the lake
covered with fields of ice as far as the eye could reach, and arrived
at Machilimacinac on the 18th of May with the loss of only one bateau.
After such a hazardous journey of about three hundred miles in open
boats, in the early spring, across a lake covered with masses of float-
ing ice and swept by storms, it is comforting to know that they arrived
in time to hold the place against an attack made on it by the Americans
under Captain Sinclair on the 28th of July of that year.
44
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Perhaps the most interesting occurrence during the war of 1812-15
which is connected with the Nottawasaga Eiver was the sinking of the
North-West Company's schooner, Nancy, in 1814. The following brief
account of it is given by James in his " Naval History of Great
Britain " :
" The Nancy was lying about two miles up the Nottawasaga, under
the protection of a blockhouse situated on the south-east side of the
river, which here runs parallel to and forms a narrow peninsula with
the shore of Gloucester Bay (Nottawasaga Bay). This enabled Captain
Sinclair to anchor his vessels within good battering distance of the
blockhouse. A spirited cannonade was kept up between them and the
blockhouse, where, besides two 24-pounder carronades on the ground,
a 6-pounder was mounted. The three American vessels outside, the
Niagara, Tigress, and Scorpion, mounted between them eighteen car-
ronades (32-pounders) ; the Niagara had also two long 12 -pounders,
and the Tigress and Scorpion between them one long 12 -pounder and
two long 24-pounders. In addition to this a five-and-a-half-inch
howitzer, with a suitable detachment of artillerymen, had been landed
on the peninsula. Against these twenty-four pieces of cannon and
upwards of five hundred men were opposed one piece of cannon and
twenty-three officers and seamen. Eesistance was in vain, and just
as Lieut. Worsley had prepared a train leading from the blockhouse
to the Nancy, one of the enemy's shells burst in the former, and both
the blockhouse and vessel were presently blown up. Lieut. Worsley
and his men escaped in their boat up the river."
Captain Sinclair departed for Lake Erie, leaving the Tigress and
Scorpion to blockade the Nottawasaga, intending to starve out the
garrison at Machilimacinac, as this was the only route by which sup-
plies could be readily forwarded to that post. These two vessels, after
remaining there for a few days, took a trip to St. 'Joseph's Island,
where they were captured by the English, and all the men on board
were taken prisoners to Kingston by the Nottawasaga Kiver route.*
After the close of the war the British officers, recognizing the im-
portance of the route, gave orders for the erection of a fort on the
Nottawasaga Kiver. This was built in 1816, at a bend in the river
about four miles from its mouth. It was intended to protect the store-
houses established there, from which supplies were forwarded to the
»hwf Til ab°Ut 6<Lmen were caPtured ™th the Tigress and Scorpion it is not
probable that there were 500 men in the attack on the Nancy. The capture of these two
8 * d and the 8endin8 of the Prisoners to Kingston by this route
ld of the capture by night °f tw° American
THE NOTTAWASAGA RIVER ROUTE. 45
military posts maintained at Machilimacinac, Drummond Island and
Penetanguishene. The garrison of the fort was withdrawn in 1818
and sent to Penetanguishene.
The Government also, in 1819, erected storehouses at both ends of
the Nine Mile Portage, Barrie and Willow Creek. Besides being used
for military purposes, this route was the great highway over which
passed traders, Indians and settlers with their merchandise, furs and
supplies. Provisions and supplies for settlers who had settled along
the Bay as far west as Meaford were brought from the mouth of the
Nottawasaga River, by boat in summer and by teams over the ice in
winter. Much had to be transported over the Nine Mile Portage at all
seasons of the year, and the settlers of the surrounding district often
found employment in this way.
The Rev. Thos. Williams, who as a lad of fourteen spent several
months of the summer of 1824 teaming supplies over this portage, says,
amongst other things, in his " Pioneer Memories," which appeared in
the Barrie Examiner of 1890 : " On some of the days when it fell to
my lot to be home I have often counted between twenty and thirty
canoes coming stealthily up the north side of the Bay — each canoe
bearing an Indian family — and in a little as many little blue smokes
under the spreading branches of the pine trees, which stood somewhat
wide apart where the houses of Barrie now stand, would tell where
each family had erected its temporary dwelling." He further says:
"Besides the supplies for the naval and military establishment at
Penetasguishene going by this portage, there were two great trading
companies which took most of their goods by this route. The name of
one was P. and W. Robinson. Their monogram or mark was made
like this — WR. The other company was called Borland and Roe, and
their mark was made this way — 9R. These large companies had
absorbed most of the small traders by employing them as branch posts."
In consequence of the great amount of traffic, quite a little village
arose at the northern terminus of the portage on Willow Creek. This
portage continued to be the highway over which supplies for the mili-
tary posts, traders and settlers were teamed until the Northern Rail-
way was built to Collingwood in 1855. After this the little hamlet
on Willow Creek rapidly passed out of existence, until at present the
only traces left to mark the spot where it stood are the outlines of the
foundations of a few buildings. The old portage can still be traced
across the country from Barrie to Willow Creek, except in places
where improved farms have blotted it out for ever.
Among the distinguished travellers who have passed over this
46
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
route in the early days* may be mentioned the deserters from Lord
Selkirk's Ked River Colony in 1815. After ^traversing five hundred
miles of rocky wilderness between Tort Garry and Fort William the
fugitives reached the latter place. Here the North- West Company, in
order to promote their removal from the country, fitted out a fleet of
small boats to transport them down the lakes. In this fleet they arrived
at the outlet of the Nottawasaga River, which they ascended, as well
as its tributary, Willow Creek, then crossed the Nine Mile Portage to
the head of Kempenfeldt Bay. Passing across Lake Simcoe they
reached the Holland River, up which they went as far as the third
concession of West Gwillimbury, where they landed and made a settle-
ment in the peninsula formed between the Holland River and its north
branch.
As far as can be ascertained the fugitives consisted of the following
seventeen men, some of whom had wives and families :
Sutherlands (6), Donald, Haman, William, Robert, James and
Angus; McKays (4), James, Robert, Roderick and Angus; McBeths
(3), Andrew, Charles and William; Matthewsons (2), "Black" John
and " Red " John ; Geo. Ross and Arthur Campbell.
These were the pioneers of what is known to this day as the " Scotch
Settlement " of West Gwillimbury. It is also related that they did not
all arrive at the same time, but that they came in two parties, and that
the second party, which came after the final destruction of the colony,
consisted of Robert and Roderick McKay, two McBeths and one Suth-
erland— five men in all. These are said to have come by Parry Sound
and Orillia in 1816.
Sir George Head crossed the Nine Mile Portage in 1815 and has
left an account of his travels from York to Penetanguishene and the
Nottawasaga in his " Forest Scenes."
The commissioners appointed to mark the boundary between the
Columbia River territory and British Columbia returned by this route
in 1824. They had crossed the entire continent from the Columbia
River, and went east from Lake Simcoe by the canoe route through the
chain of lakes and the Trent River.
Sir John Franklin took this route in April, 1825, on his second
overland expedition to the Arctic Seas.
Commodore Barrie, who was commander of the British war vessels
Kingston for some time, passed over it in June, 1828, while on a
:our of inspection of the naval depots of the upper lakes.
On the occasion of a trip up the river early in June of this year, in
* See page 43.
THE NOTTAWASAGA RIVER ROUTE. 47
company with Mr. Freer, manager of the Bank of Montreal, we were
shown the location of the schooner Nancy. An island has been formed
because of the sediment collected, and only a small portion of the stern
of the vessel is visible. We were also shown the location of the block-
house, in the neighborhood of which numerous grape shot and a few
cannon balls have been picked up. About two miles further up the
river we were shown the location of Fort Nottawasaga, the storehouses
and living houses of the garrison and those employed. This site is at
a point where, by a portage of a quarter of a mile, the route by the
river is shortened by about four miles. Canoes going up the river
heavily laden used this portage, as by so doing they shortened the route
and escaped two short rapids. On the way down the boats went the
whole way around after lightening at the other end of the portage.
The only traces of the fort and the surrounding houses were the
vague outlines of three or four buildings. We crossed the portage,
and at the other end were shown the old Indian burying ground. Many
skeletons have been found there, but it is reported that they were all
those of women and children. Numerous pieces of pottery and other
indications of Indian encampment were noticed. Our guide told us
that he knew of the location of a cannon in the river, and we are
negotiating with him to raise it with the object of obtaining it for the
Huron Institute. There seems to be no doubt but the gun is there, as
several report having seen it. It appears, according to reports, to have
been hurriedly tumbled down the bank into the river, and is probably
one of the guns reported by James as having been in the possession of
Lieut. Worsley's men at the time of the sinking of the schooner Nancy.
Our guide was dumb as to the actual location, but from the accounts of
others it is in the river below the location of the blockhouse.
Another matter of interest, which indicates the importance of this
Nottawasaga River route, was the proposal in the early days of the
settlement of this district to build a railway from Toronto to Barrie and
from there to the mouth of the Nottawasaga. Surveys were made, and in
1836 the plan of a town at the mouth of the river was drawn out, which
shows the railway station, freight sheds, streets, avenues, parks, and
everything that goes to make a town on paper. The agitation culminat-
ing in the rebellion of 1837 turned the attention of the authorities in
other directions for some time. In the meantime strong opposition arose
against the location of a town so close to Barrie. It was pointed out that a
railway from the mouth of the Nottawasaga would pass far to the west
of Barrie, and the first town of importance on it would probably be
Holland Landing. It was also argued that if the terminus were at
48
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Penetanguishene the road would probably pass through Barrie, and
as this was thirty-five miles from Penetanguishene, the danger to
Barrie would be little as compared with that arising from a large
town at the mouth of the STottawasaga. Numerous letters were pub-
lished referring to the " storm shifting sands " of this part of Notta-
wasaga Bay, and about this time a large schooner was wrecked at the
mouth of the river, purposely, it is claimed by some, in order to destroy
confidence in the safety of the harbor. The outcome of the agitation
was that the railway was in 1855 built to Collingwood, then known as
" Hens and Chickens." When it is remembered that this was the first
railway of importance built in Canada, and that it was built to take
the place of the Nottawasaga Kiver route, an idea may be formed of
the great importance of this old highway.
To any one acquainted with both locations it is hard to understand
why the present terminus was selected. If a small part of the money
had been expended on the mouth of the Nottawasaga that has been
expended on Collingwood harbor, a much better and safer harbor would
have resulted. In case of a storm on the lake from the north or north-
west, the only direction that could make a rough lake for the lower
portion of the bay, it would be a home run for boats, with plenty of
room for five miles up the JsTottawasaga Kiver for all the shipping on
the lakes, sheltered from every angry wind by the long peninsula
formed between the river and the lake.
Such is the buffeting of fate, but there are many who yet hope to
see this ancient route once more made famous as a part of the Huron-
tario Ship Canal, first advocated about 1836, yet talked of, and its
possibility as a profitable enterprise persistently believed in.
REFERENCES.— Smith's "Gazetteer"; Head's "Forest Scenes"; Robertson's "Land-
marks of Toronto"; Dr. Scadding's "Toronto of Old"; "History of the County of
Simcoe," published in the Barrie Examiner, 1890 ; " Travels and Adventures in Canada,"
Alexander Henry.
V.
THE FIRST COMMISSION OF THE PEACE FOR THE
DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG.
BY R. V. ROGERS, LL.D.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the O. H. S. at Kingston, July 19th, 1907.)
My paper, like many an old-fashioned sermon, is divided into four
parts : First, the Commission itself, this is the text ; second, the persons
mentioned in the Commission; third, explanations and descriptions,
and, lastly, the seal or conclusion.
(Endorsement.)
GENERAL COMMISSION of the PEACE for the District of
Mecklenburg in the Province of Quebec.
Fiat.
Recorded in the office of Enrollments at Quebec the 28th day of
July, 1788, in the third Register of Letters Patent & Commissions,
folio 253.
(sgd.) GEO. POWNALL, Sec. & Keg.
/c< , * Commission.
(Sgd-J
DORCHESTER., G.
GEORGE THE THIRD by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland, KING. Defender of the faith &c. To OUR Trusty and Well
beloved Henry Hope Lieutenant Governor, William Smith Chief Jus-
tice, Hugh Finlay, Thomas Dunn, Edward Harrison, John Collins,
Adam Mabane, Joseph Gaspard Chaussegros Delory, George Pownall,
Picotte de Bellestre, John Fraser, Henry Caldwell, William Grant,
Paul Rock St. Ours, Francis Baby, Joseph de Longueuil, Samuel Hol-
land, George Davison, Sir John Johnson Bart, Charles de Lanaudiere,
Rene Amable Boucherville, and Le comte Dupre, Members of OUR
Council of OUR Province of Quebec, and to OUR loving subjects Robert
Clark and Ephraim Washburn of Ernest Town, George Singleton and
Robert Kerr of Fredericksburg, Peter Vanalstin and Nicholas Hager-
4 49
50 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
man of Adolpims Town, Daniel Wright, Archibald McDonell and
Joseph Sherwood of Marysburg, William Marst, Joseph W. Meyers
and Stephen Gilbert of Sydney, and William Bowen of Richmond,
Esquires, GREETING. KNOW YE that WE have assigned you jointly and
severally and every one of you, OUB Justices to keep OUR Peace in OUB
District of Mecklenburg in OUB said Province of Quebec, and to keep
and cause to be kept, all Ordinances, Statutes and Laws for the good
of the peace, and for preservation of the same ; and for the quiet Rule
and Government of OUB people made in all and singular their articles
in OUB said District of Mecklenburg (as well within liberties as with-
out) according to the force, form and effect of the same ; and to chastise
and punish all persons that offend against the form of those Ordinances,
Statutes and Laws, or any of them, in the District aforesaid, as it
ought to be done, according to the form and purpose of those Laws,
Ordinances and Statutes and to cause to come before you or any of
you, all those who to any one or more of OUB people concerning their
bodies, or the firing of their houses, have used threats ; to find sufficient
security for the peace for their good behaviour, towards Us and OUB
people, and if they shall refuse to find such security, then to cause
them to be safely kept in OUB prisons until they shall find such security.
WE have also assigned you and every two or more of you, of whom any
one of you the aforesaid Henry Hope, William Smith, Hugh Finlay,
Thomas Dunn, -Edward Harrison, John Collins, Adam Mabane, 'Joseph
Gaspard Chaussegros Delory, George Pownall, Picotte de Bellestre,
John Eraser, Henry Caldwell, William Grant, Paul Rock St. Ours,
Francis Baby, Joseph de Longueuil, Samuel Holland, George Davison,
Sir John Johnson, Bart., Charles de Lanaudiere, Rene Amable Bou-
cherville and Le Comte Dupre, Members of Our Council for our said
Province, & Robert Clark, & Ephraim Washburn of Earnest Town &
George Singleton; (We will Shall be one) OUB JUSTICES to enquire
the truth more fully, by the oath of good and lawful men of the Dis-
trict aforesaid ; by whom the truth of the matter may be better known,
of all and all manner of Felonies, Poisonings, Enchantments, Sorceries,
Arts Magick, Trespasses, Forestallings, Regratings, Ingrossings and
Extortions, whatsoever ; and all and singular other crimes and offences,
of which the Justices of OUB peace may or ought lawfully to enquire,
by whomsoever and after what manner soever in the said District done
or perpetrated, or which shall happen to be there done or attempted;
And also all those who in the aforesaid District, in companies against
OUB peace, in disturbance of OUB people, with armed force have gone
or rode or hereafter shall presume to go or ride; And also of all those
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG^ 51
who have there lain in wait, or hereafter shall presume to lie in wait,
to maim, or cut, or kill OUR people; And also of all Victuallers, and
all and singular other persons who in the abuse of weights or measures,
or in selling Victuals against the form of the Ordinances, Statutes and
Laws of OUR said Province, or any of them in that behalf made, for the
common benefit of OUR said Province, and OUR people thereof, have
offended, or attempted, or hereafter shall presume in the said District
to offend or attempt ; And also of all Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Stewards, Con-
stables, Keepers of Gaols and other officers who in the execution of
their offices, about the premises or any of them, have unduly behaved
themselves ; or hereafter shall presume to behave themselves unduly, or
have boon or shall happen hereafter to be careless, remiss or negligent
in OUR District aforesaid; and of all and singular articles and cir-
cumstances, and all other things whatsoever that concern the premises
or any of them, by whomsoever, and after what manner soever in OUR
aforesaid District done or perpetrated, or which hereafter shall there
happen to be done or attempted in what manner soever : AND to inspect
all Indictments whatsoever, so before you or any of you taken or to be
taken before others late OUR justices of the peace in the aforesaid Dis-
trict, made or taken and not yet determined, and to make and continue
processes thereupon against all and singular the person so indicted, or
who before you hereafter shall happen to be indicted, until they can be
taken, surrender themselves or be outlawed; And to hear and deter-
mine all and singular the felonies, Poisonings, Inchantments, Sorceries,
Arts magick, trespasses, forestalling^, regratings, engrossings, extor-
tions, unlawful assemblies, Indictments aforesaid, and all and singular
other the premises, according to the Laws and Statutes of England, and
the laws of our said Province, as in the like cases it has been accus-
tomed, or ought to be done ; and the same offenders and every of them,
for their offences, by fines, ransoms, amerciaments, forfeitures, and
other means as according to the Law and Custom of ENGLAND or form
of the Ordinances and Statutes aforesaid, and the Laws of the said Pro-
vince it has been accustomed or ought to be done, to chastise and pun-
ish, PROVIDED ALWAYS that if a case of difficulty upon the determina-
tion of any of the premises before you, or any two or more of you, shall
happen to arise ; then let Judgment in no wise be thereon given before
you, or any two or more of you, unless in the presence of OUR Chief
Justice of OUR Court of King's Bench of OUR Province aforesaid, or
of one or more of OUR Justices specially appointed to hold the assizes in
the aforesaid District ; and therefore WE command you iand every of you
that to keeping the peace, Ordinances, Statutes, and all and singular the
52 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
premises, you diligently apply yourselves and that certain days and
places, which you, or any such two or more of you as is aforesaid, shall
for these purposes appoint, into the premises ye make enquires, and all
and singular the premises hear and determine, and perform and fulfil
them, in the aforesaid form, doing therein what to Justices appertains
according to the Law and Custom of England and the ordinances as
above mentioned, SAVING TO Us the amerciaments and other things to
Us therefrom belonging. And WE command by the tenor of these pre-
sents, OUR Sheriff of the District of Mecklenburg that at certain days
and places, which you or any such two or more of you as is aforesaid,
shall make known to him, he cause to come before you, or such two or
more of you as aforesaid, so many and such good and lawful men of
his District and Bailiwick (as well within the liberties as without) by
whom the truth of the matter in the premises shall be the better known
and enquired into, and lastly WE Command the keeper of the Rolls of
OUR Peace of the said District, that he brings before you and your
said Fellows, at the days and places aforesaid, the writs, precepts, pro-
cesses and Indictments aforesaid, that they may be inspected and by a
due course determined as is aforesaid.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF WE have caused these OUR Letters to be
made Patent and the Great Seal of OUR Province of Quebec to be
thereunto affixed, and the same to be recorded in one of the books of
Patents in OUR Registers office remaining: WITNESS OUR Trusty and
Well-loved GUY LORD DORCHESTER, OUR Captain General and Gover-
nor in Chief of OUR said Province, at OUR Castle of ST. LEWIS in OUR
City of Quebec, this twenty-fourth day of JULY in the year of OUR
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, and of OUR reign
the twenty-eighth.
(sgd) D. G.
(sgd) GEO. POWNALL, Secry.
PERSONS MENTIONED.
DORCHESTER (GUY CARLETON), born at Strabane, Ireland, Sept.
3, 1724, was appointed Lieut-Colonel in 1757 ; took part in the siege
of Louisbourg; was wounded at the taking of Quebec in 1759; served
at the siege of Belleisle in 1761, and at that of Havana in 1762 ; was
appointed Lieut. -Governor of Quebec in 1766 and Governor in 1768 ;
was in command of the British troops in Canada; successfully de-
fended Quebec against the American forces under Montgomery and
Arnold, December 1775, to May 1776; captured Crown Point in
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 53
tober, 1776; was made Lieut. -General in 1777; in 1782 he suc-
ceeded Sir Henry Clinton as Commander-in-Chief of the British
forces in America, and took command in New York in May and evac-
uated that city in November of the following year. He was appointed
Governor-in-Chief of Canada again in 1786, and also of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick, and held that office until 1796. He died in
Berkshire in 1808, aged 83. Kingsford says of him: " His military
success is written in his services with Wolfe ; in the pregnant sentence
that he saved Quebec in 1775 and that in 1776 he drove before him
from Canadian soil the Congress forces like a flock of sheep. In his
political career, his moderation, justice, prudence and genius can
everywhere be recognized. He had the keenest sense of what was due
to the dignity and character of Great Britain. In his private life
there was ever apparent a chivalrous sense of honor, truth and self-
sacrifice." His name in this part of Canada is kept fresh by that of
the neighboring island, which was once a British post, but which
boundary commissioners gave to the Republic to our south.
HENRY HOPE was sworn in as Lieutenant-Governor on 2nd Nov-
ember 1785, and acted as such until Dorchester arrived in Canada in
October 1786. He died in April 1789, and was buried in Quebec
with military honors. Hope Gate was called after him. He was very
considerate of the U. E. Loyalists and did much to further their
interests.
WILLIAM SMITH, Chief Justice, was born in the City of New York
in 1728, the son of a successful lawyer who became one of the Asso-
ciate Judges of the Province of New York. He entered the profession
of the law and in 1765 became Chief Justice of New York. He is not
a favorite with United States critics; they say that when the revolu-
tionary movement was approaching its final development he was un-
certain which side he should take and so retired to his country house
on the North Eiver for five months, as if waiting, to see on which
banner victory would perch. However, he was suspected of leaning to
the royal cause and was confined on parol ; as his property was not con-
fiscated, it is evident that he was not altogether unfriendly to the revo-
lutionary party. In 1778 he returned to New York and openly took
the Britisth side; he remained in that city, thoroughly enjoying
Carleton's confidence, until the evacuation after the peace; then he
accompanied Carleton to England. When Carleton returned to Canada
as Lord Dorchester and Governor-General Smith came with him as
Chief Justice; in December, 1792, he was nominated by the Crown as
Speaker of the Legislative Council. Smith believed in the supremacy
54 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of English law and stoutly advocated the establishment of the jury
system in Canada in disputes between merchants and traders, and in
actions for personal injuries. He submitted to Dorchester a scheme
which foreshadowed the confederation of the Dominion; he suggested
a Legislative Assembly for the whole of British America south of
Hudson's Bay and north of Bermuda, which should make laws for all
the Provinces; Dorchester thought so well of the plan that he for-
warded the communication to the Home Government, but the time for
such a great union was not yet fully come and the idea slept. He died
in December, 1793, and among those who attended his funeral was
H.E.H. Prince Edward, the father of her gracious Majesty Queen
Victoria.
HUGH FINLAY was the Postmaster-General of that day; appar-
ently his labors as such could not have been very onerous, as the only
places between which correspondence was then regularly carried on were
Montreal, Quebec, Three Eivers and Sorel, and the post went only twice
a week; there was an occasional mail to Chambly. In 1799 he was
behind in his accounts with the Imperial Government to the extent of
some £1,500 (these were the days of small things), and in August,
1802, he was removed from his position. He appears to have specu-
lated in lands with the Government moneys. Dorchester arranged for
a monthly mail to England, from Halifax and St. John, the letters to
be carried thither by a man on foot. Postage was heavy — a package
containing a petition, sent from Montreal in a box to the Governor at
Quebec, cost £2 16s.
JOHN ERASER was one of the judges at Montreal.
THOMAS DUNN was a native of Durham, in England, and was
born in 1731. He came to Canada shortly after the conquest and
engaged in mercantile life. Subsequently, he 'became one of the judges
of the Court of King's Bench (common sense, not common law, was
needed in those days). Dorchester appointed him to the Legislative
Council in 1775 ; by the way, the first meeting of that Council was
disturbed by the news of Montgomery's invasion. When Sir Eobert
S. Milner left Quebec in 1805 Mr. Dunn, as senior Executive Coun-
cillor, was appointed Administrator of the Government. In his first
opening speech to the Assembly he had the pleasing duty of congratu-
lating the members on the glorious victory of Trafalgar. Kingsforft
calls this naval action unparalleled in history— but, then, Kingsford
wrote before the exploits of Dewey, Schley and Sampson.
JOHN COLLINS was Deputy Surveyor-General and laid out the
Township of Frederieksburgh in 1783 and afterwards Marysburgh.
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 55
His name is perpetuated in this region by a lake, a stream and a bay,
not to speak of a village.
ADAM MABANE, a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, although
at an earlier period he had been StaifrSurgeon of the Quebec garrison,
was appointed to the Council by General Murray when Governor.
Carleton, shortly after his arrival, dismissed him, because of his
action in the Walker matter. Carleton had previously snubbed him
because Mabane, with others, had objected to the Governor consulting
with members of the Council individually. He was appointed a judge
of the Court of Common Pleas by Carleton in 1755, and Dorchester,
after the Quebec Act, kept him on the bench.
JOSEPH CHATISSEGROS DE LERY, born in Canada, was the son of
the French King's chief engineer, who came to this country in 1717
obtained a seigniory in 1732, and prepared the plans for the for-
tifications of Quebec. Our justice entered the army in 1742 and held
the position of captain in Montcalm's command at the time of ^the
capture of Quebec. He had previously drawn the designs for forti-
fying Quebec and built Fort Beausejour, in Acadia. In 1761 he, with
his family, went to France, to solicit a place and the favors to which
he thought his services to his country entitled him. But, being unsuc-
cessful with the French, he turned to the English king. When he and
his wife, Louise de Brouages, were presented at Court, the youthful
George III. was so struck with the lady's beauty that he exclaimed,
" Madame, if all the ladies of Canada resemble you, we may indeed
boast of our beautiful conquest." De Lery returned to his native land
in September, 1764. General Murray — the then Governor — did
nothing for him, however. But when Carleton recommended the
appointment of French-Canadians to the Legislative Council in .1769,
de Lery's name was the first on the list. He received the appointment
in time, and held it from 1775 until his death in December, 1797,
drawing, besides £100 a year as Councillor, £200 as a pension from
the Government. One of his sons became Lieutenant-General and
Engineer-in-Chief of the Imperial Army, and was made a Baron by
Napoleon.
FRANCOIS MARIE PICOTTE DE BELESTRE, Chevalier de St. Louis,
was the grandson of the first nobleman who came to Canada in the
time of De Maisonneuve, Madlle. Mance and Marguerite Bourgeois.
He distinguished himself at Detroit, of which place he became Gov-
ernor in 1756. At the cession of New France he most reluctantly
made over this post to the British, being almost unable to believe that
the French had capitulated at Montreal in 1760. Having retired to
56 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
this place, he became a devoted subject to the British Crown and his
zeal in defending its honor, both in public and in private, was well
known. In 1775 he retook the Fort of St. John from the Americans,
defeated Schuyler, and defended Chambly forty-five days against
Montgomery, but he had to succumb for want of relief. He was first
called to the Council in 1775.
HENEY CALDWELL was at one time Receiver-General. He was
Deputy Quartermaster-General under Wolfe and settled in the Pro-
vince after the conquest. When Montgomery 'besieged Quebec, he was
in command of the English-speaking militia in that fortress, with the
provincial rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was an energetic and effi-
cient officer. He had a special cause for disliking the rebels that came
to try and win Quebec under Arnold and Montgomery, for they occu-
pied tand pillaged His fine country house. The very day that Benedict
Arnold and his ragged, way-worn followers had landed at Wolfe's Cove
and scaled the heights of Abraham, they marched to " Sans Bruit,"
the manor house of Colonel Caldwell, which was situated half-way
between the Cove and Quebec, near the St. Charles River. The
mansion house became the headquarters of the Continentals and the
rank and file were comfortably quartered in the adjacent buildings;
greatly the Americans relished feasting on Caldwell's fat bullocks after
their terrible journey up the Kennebec and down the Chaudiere, when
they had to eat dogs — entrails, skin and all — moose hide, moccasin soup,
shaving soap, pomatum and lip salve, and gnawed ravenously but in
vain at the leather of their shoes, cartridge boxes, shot pouches and
breeches.
WILLIAM GRANT was the Receiver-General of the Province of
Quebec. In 1770, fifteen years after her first husband's death, he
married the widow of the third Baron de Longueuil, who had -been killed
in Dieskau's defeat at Lake George, and was supposed to have been
eaten by the drunken and infuriated Indians, who fought on the side
of the English, de Longueuil having been in command of the French
braves. The lady was a Delle. Fleury Deschambault, and had no chil-
dren by her second husband. The Grants were of the nobility in
Scotland, as well as in France; the Grants, of Blairfindie, were of an
illustrious race. William Grant had a nephew, David Alexander
Gfcrant, a Captain in the 94th Regiment, whose marriage with his
wife's only daughter, Marie Charles Josephe LeMoyne, he greatly
encouraged; the happy event took place on the 7th May, 1781. The
son of this marriage, the Hon. Charles William Grant, on the death of
his mother, became the Baron de Longueuil. He was largely inter-
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOB DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 57
ested in lands on Wolfe Island, once part of La Salle's seigniory of
Oataraqui.
SAINT KOCHE DE ST. OUBS was of noble origin and a descendant
of an officer of the Carignan-Salieres Regiment, which came to New
France in 1665, of a family distinguished for its bravery and interpid-
ity in the field. Quinson, one brother, fought at Monongahela, where
Braddock suffered, and at St. John, then became Commandant at Saint
Domingo. A second brother was killed in the service of his king in
1757. Pierre Roche, a third, distinguished himself considerably at
Carillon, was made a Knight of St. Louis, commanded as a Brigadier
on the Plains of Abraham, where he was mortally wounded. The
member of the Council, who was known by the name of d'Eschaillons,
was born in 1736 ; married Mile. Josephe Godfroy de Tormaneour, of
Three Rivers, by whom he had three children, who survived him. He
died in 1814, at the age of 78, a member of the Executive and Legis-
lative Councils.
FRANCIS BABY was a grandson of Jacques Baby, seigneur of Ran-
ville and an officer of the famous regiment of Carignan, and the young-
est son of Raymond Baby and Therese Lecompte Dupre. He served
in the army during the Seven Years' War and went to France with the
remnant of the troops in the autumn of 1760. Three years later he
returned to Canada, with a number of other famous Canadians, re-
solved to accept British domination. Charter de Lotbiniere 'helped
him to enter the fur trade, in which in a few years, while still young,
he acquired a fine fortune. In 1772 he was sent to London by his
fellow-countrymen, and did much to enlighten the minister of the day
on the state of the country and to prepare for the Quebec Act. In
1775 he urged General Carleton to place the country in a state of
defence, in view of the dark clouds gathering in the south, and he him-
self was appointed Major in the militia. Afterwards, he held many
important offices; twice he was at the point of being made Adminis-
trator of the Province, but his religion prevented it. He was made
Adjutant of the Militia by Haldimand in 1780 and continued such
until 1812. Suite says he was called to the Executive Council in
1791 and to the Legislative Council in 1792. He died in 1820,
aged 87.
JOSEPH LEMOYNE DE LONGITEUIL. Joseph Dominique Emmanuel
was the son of Paul Joseph de Longueuil and Marie Genevieve Joy-
bert de Soulanges; born, May 2nd, 1738. Early in life he entered the
French Army and rose to the rank of Captain. He married the widow
of De Bonne de Lesdigineres, who was killed at the siege of Quebec.
58 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
She was the daughter of Colonel Prudhomme, Commander of the Mont-
real Militia on the Plains of Abraham, and at the affair at Ste. Foye.
He tendered his services to King George after the peace. Carleton
appointed him Inspector-General of Militia, and in 1796 he became
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Canadian Volunteers. He contrib-
uted considerably of his private means to the keeping up of this corps,
at the head of which he remained six years. In that regiment, which
bore on its colors the words, " Try Us," were many of the leading
French-Canadians. His fortune was a considerable one for those days.
He was Seignior of Soulanges, Nouvelle Longueuil and Pointe
L'Orignal.
SAMUEL HOLLAND was Surveyor-General of Canada. He sur-
veyed Adolphustown in 1783.
LE COMPTE DUPEE originally served under the Marquis Duquesne,
the French Governor-General o/ Canada, and then on to the sur-
render of Canada to the British. He then entered the army of the
conquerors, and in consequence of his bravery and skill during the
siege of Quebec by Montgomery he was appointed Commandant of
that city and the surrounding district by Sir Guy Carleton. He con-
tinued in this important position for over twenty years. The Ameri-
cans, under Montgomery, burnt his property. Some 400 of them were
quartered on his estate near the city.
SIB JOHN JOHNSON was a son of the celebrated Sir William
Johnson. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Sir John, who
had already succeeded to his father's title and to his influence over
the Indians, exerted that influence to the utmost in the royal
cause. Although only 18 he served as a volunteer under Bur-
goyne. He thus rendered himself particularly obnoxious to the Con-
tinentals, as the Americans were then called. In 1776 Colonel
Dayton, with a strong force, was sent to arrest him, and put it out of
his power to do further mischief to the Revolutionists. Receiving
timely notice of this move from his Tory friends in Albany he hastily
assembled a large number of his tenants and others and made arrange-
ments for a retreat to Canada, and this he safely accomplished.
Avoiding the route by Lake Champlain, from fear of falling into the
hands of the enemy, who were supposed to be assembled in that direc-
tion, he struck deep into the woods by way of the head-waters of the
Hudson, and descended the Raquette River to the St Lawrence and
then crossed over to Canada. Their store of provisions failed soon
after they left home. Weary and footsore numbers of them sank by
the way and had to be left behind, but were shortly after relieved by a
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 59
party of Indians, who were sent from Caughnawaga in search of them.
After nineteen days of hardships, which have had few parallels in our
history, they reached Montreal. So hasty had 'been the flight that the
family papers had to be buried in the garden at Johnson Hall, nothing
being taken with them but articles of prime necessity. The Americans
made nothing by this move, for Sir John soon after his arrival in Mont-
real was commissioned a Colonel and raised two battalions of loyalists,
who were called the Royal Greens. A large number of the Mohawks,
and the settlers on his New York lands, some seven hundred in number,
by his persuasion came over to Canada. He was one of the most active
and bitterest foes that the Whigs encountered during the contest, and
many an inroad did his Indians make across the line. In August, 1777,
he, with Colonel St. Ledger and Brant, invested Fort Stanwix. Their
operations being threatened by the brave old hero General Nicholas
Herkimer, Commander of the Tryon County Militia, the British moved
out to meet him, and while they successfully ambuscaded Herkimer
and his men, they were finally defeated and completely routed by a
brilliant sortie of the garrison. Sir John Johnson's camp was pillaged
and five British Standards captured ; these the American Colonel hung
up in the fort, beneath the Stars and Stripes, hastily extemporized out
of a white shirt, an old blue jacket and some strips of cloth from the
'petticoat of a soldier's wife. This flag, says Fiske, was the first
American flag with stars and stripes ever hoisted, and it was flung to
the breeze on the memorable day of Oriskany, August 6, 1777, and
these captured banners of Johnson's Royal Greens were, as Bancroft
says, the first flags that had ever floated under the Stars and Stripes
of the young Republic. Johnson was knighted at St. James' Palace.
After the war he was appointed Superintendent-General of Indian
Affairs of British North America, also Colonel-in-Chief of six regi-
ments of militia in the Eastern Townships, .and a member of the
Legislature. He lived in Montreal and died there. His exten-
sive family estates on the Mohawk were, of course, confiscated, but
the Crown compensated him with large grants of land in different
parts of Canada and a considerable sum of money. His only son
became a Colonel in the British Army and was killed at Waterloo.
Dorchester, in 1790, had strongly recommended that Sir John should
be made the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. How-
ever, Simcoe was appointed. He owned Lot 1, adjoining the
Town of Kingston. Being in this old City of Kingston, I
may say that Sir John Johnson's five half-sisters, in whose veins
coursed the brave and dusky blood of the Mohawks — their mother
(JO ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
being- Miss Molly, a sister of Tyandinagea, Joseph Brant— lived here.
These ladies were fairly well educated and married well — one, Cap-
tain Farley, of the 60th Kegiment; another, Lieutenant Lemoine, of
the 24th; the third, John Ferguson, she was the Magdalen Fer-
guson whom all conveyancers in Kingsters know well by name as the
patentee of 116 acres " adjoining the northernmost limits of the Town
of Kingston." A fourth daughter married Dr. Kerr, a well-known
surgeon of the day, who eventually settled near Hamilton. The fifth,
Ann, was the wife of Captain Barl, of the Provincial Navy. He has
given us the name of one of our streets and his Indian beauty owned
some town lots, as well as Lot 2, adjoining Kingston. Their daughter
married Colin Miller, the first Manager of the Bank of Montreal in
this city.
cv
CHAELES TAKIE^ DE LANAUDIEBE was the son of Charles Xavier
Tarien de Lanaudiere, and, serving as a Lieutenant in the French
army, was wounded at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. He went
back with his regiment — that of La Sarre — to France, but the spirit
of the New World soon drew him again to Canada. However, before
returning, he travelled a good deal over Europe, and had the good for-
tune of being presented, with Mons. de St. Ours, to the great Fred-
erick of Prussia, at Potsdam, during the celebrated manoeuvres there.
In Canada he became Aide-de-camp to General Carleton and greatly
assisted him in avoiding falling into the hands of the invading Amer-
icans on his rapid trip from Montreal to Quebec in the fall of 1775.
The Governor had abandoned Montreal to Montgomery and his forces,
and was hurrying to Quebec with men, munitions and provisions and,
fearful of being stopped at Sorel by the Americans under Easton, he,
Lanaudiere and one or two others entered the boat of a trader, and —
the crew quietly paddling only with their hands — managed to slip
safely by the hostile camp — and so to save Quebec and Canada. When
Montgomery fell and his body was placed in its temporary resting-
place under the walls of Quebec, his faithful spaniel lay mourning for
eight days, without food, on its master's grave," in that fearful January
weather, until Lanaudiere coaxed the poor creature away. He had raised
a company of his censitaires to help repel the invasion. Consequently,
the Continentals completely sacked his manor house at St. Anne's. He
took a vigorous part in the defence of Chambly. In 1778 he followed
Carleton to England, and, together with his father-in-law, Lacorne St.
Luc, he appeared as a witness before the Burgoyne Committee of the
House of Commons. On his return to Canada he was appointed Grand
Voyer. He died in 1811, leaving one daughter. He had been called
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 61
to the Legislative Council in 1792. He was Seignior of St. Anne de
la Parade. The late Judge Baby (to whom I am much indebted for
information about these French-Canadians), said that the De Lanau-
diere family was of ancient noblesse and was closely connected with
the Dukes of Mortimore.
RENE AMABLE BOUCHER DE BOIJCHERVLLE was a descendant of
Pierre Boucher, Governor of Three Rivers, who was ennobled by
Louis XIV. in 1661, and the son of Francois Pierre Boucher de
Boucherville and Marguerite Bianbault de St. Blin. He was born at
Cataraqui (now Kingston), the 12th February, 1735, and married at
Montreal, in 1770, his cousin, Madelaine de St. Blin. He took a dis-
tinguished part in the defence of Chambly against the Americans in
1775, when they made their raid into Quebec, before the Declaration
of Independence. He filled the office of Grand Voyer in Lower Canada
for many years. He died at Boucherville on 2nd September, 1812.
ROBERT CLARK was born in Dutchess County, N.Y., in 1774. By
trade he was a carpenter and millwright, and he owned two farms
near his birthplace. He was married and had two children when the
American Revolution broke out, but he at once volunteered and joined
the British army. This loyal act destroyed his home, his family were
driven out, his property confiscated, warrants were issued against him
and a reward offered for his apprehension. He was with Burgoyne
when that unfortunate general decided to surrender to the Americans
at Saratoga. He, with other volunteers, were told of what was coming
and advised to leave the camp and make their way to some place of
safety, unless they desired to fall into the enemy's hands and taste his
tender mercies. Many of them disappeared by night and reached
Canada after weeks of sufferings and privations. Clark then volun-
teered into the Loyal Rangers, under Major Jessop. He received his
discharge in December, 1783, when the cruel war was practically over.
In 1783 he was employed by the Government to erect a grist mill at
what is now called Kingston Mills, the first mill in this section of the
Province. In 1784 he was happily re-united to his wife and family!
at Cataraqui, whither they had wended their way with the Loyalists;
the separation had lasted seven years. Clark located in the front of
Ernestown, midway between Collins Bay and Mill Haven, where some
of his descendants lived until a year or so ago. He was the patentee
of Lots 30 and 31 and the east half of 33, in the first concession of
that township. In 1785 and 1786 he built a sawmill and a grist mill
at Appanea Falls (now called Napanee). For many years he was an
active member of the Court of Requests. He was prominent in the
62 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Militia Force and as such served his country in the troublous times of
1812-14. A member of the first Methodist class founded in the town-
ship, he died in 1823. A sketch of his old mill on the Appanae
River, Bay of Quinte, may yet be seen in the British Museum, done
by the pencil of no less an .artist than the wife of Governor Simcoe.
(Papers and Records, O. H. S., Vol. VI., p. 50.)
EPHBAIM WASHBURN was also a volunteer during the Revolution,
a Sergeant in the Royal Rangers. He settled on the Bay front, west
of Bath. He was a commissary for the giving out of the Government
food supplies during the hard times of 1786. He was the father of
the Hon. Simeon Washburn, of Picton, at one time a leading business
man in the County of Prince Edward, and the father-in-law of the
Rev. Robert McDowall, that well-remembered pioneer Presbyterian
missionary in the Bay counties, who lived and died in Fredericks-
burgh. So said Mr. Casey. He was the first grantee of parts of
Lots 4, 5 and 6 in the first concession of Fredericksburgh, although in
this patent he was referred to as of Adolphustown. He also had about
1,200 acres in the Township of Hallowell, in the eleventh concession,
north-east of the Carrying Place, and some town lots in Kingston. For
many years he was member of Parliament for Prince Edward County,
and his sessional allowance varied from £22 10s. to £29 10s., as
appears by Records of the Quarter Sessions.
GEORGE SINGLETON, who had been a Captain in the Royal Regi-
ment of New York, does not seem to have obtained any land in Fred-
ericksburgh, but over 2,300 acres were granted to his heirs in the
second concession of Huntingdon.
ROBERT KERR appearsjo have been a surgeon in the Royal Regi-
ment of New York during the Revolution, but I cannot find out where
he located. His name does not appear as patentee for any lands in
Fredericksburgh.
PETER VANALSTINE was born at Kinderhook, Albany County,
N.Y. From the earliest period he resolved to support the British
Government in the impending struggle. In 1776 he was arrested and
sent to gaol for seventeen days as a friend of the king. Early in 1777
he had to leave .home, and in September of that year joined General
Burgoyne's army. After the Convention of Saratoga he came to
Canada. Afterwards, he brought thirty men into the King's army.
In 1778 he went to New York and served as Captain of Bateaux-men.
Afterwards, he did duty as Mtajor of Associated Loyalists and at
Smith Town, Long Island. He seems to have owned considerable real
estate in Albany County— this was all seized and declared forfeited.
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 63
Among his farm stock, he enumerated three negroes when making his
claim before the Royalist Commission. He was elected to represent
Lennox and Prince Edward in the First Parliament of Upper Canada.
Philip Borland had been chosen member, but, being a Quaker, he
declined to take the oaths, and so the seat was declared vacant. By
Lieutenant-Governor Simcoe's proclamation, given at Kingston, 16th
July, 1792, the County of Prince Edward and the Township of
Adolphustown together sent one representative to Parliament. The
rest of Lennox was joined with the Counties of Hastings and North-
lumberland, while Addington and the long since abolished County of
Ontario sent another. The members received ten shillings each day
for their services and this was paid by their constituents. Vanalstine
let his remuneration accumulate and the minutes of the Quarter Ses-
sions, held in October, 1795, record that he was then voted £28i for
his " member's wages " for 1793, and £26 for 1794 and £26 for 1795.
Vanalstine settled on the Bay shore on Lot 27, just east of the Dor-
lands. In addition to his land in Adolphustown, he was granted a
large tract in the opposite Township of Marysburgh, some 437 acres.
This included the mountain on which is the well-known, very inter-
esting and somewhat mysterious, lake. The Major utilized the stream
that tumbles over the rock, and erected there the first grist mill in the
township. He died in 1811 and a son of his lived many years at the
Stone Mills, Glenora, and also died there. The lake was for a time
called Vanalstine' s Lake. Canniff tells us that in the year 1783 a party
of Loyalists sailed from the Port of New York (they were under the
command of Captain Vanalstine) with a fleet of seven sail and pro-
tected by the Brig Hope, of 40 guns. Some of this band had served in
the army in an irregular manner; more had been in New York as
refugees. Vanalstine, although commissioned to lead this company,
it would seem, had not been in the service, was not a military man,
but a prominent Loyalist of the Knickerbockers. These refugees, in
setting out for the unknown wilderness, were provided with camp
tents and provisions, to 'be continued for three years, and with such
implements as were given to the disbanded soldiers, as well as a bateau
to every four families, after arriving at their place of destina-
tion. They sailed from New York on the 8th of September and;
arrived in Quebec on the 8th of October. Many were undecided whe-
ther to go to the Lower Provinces or on to Canada. A shark followed
the vessel for many days, causing no little consternation. At last a
child died and was consigned to the deep, after which this grim visitor
was seen no more. The Government rations with which they were
tJ4 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
supplied consisted of pork and peas for breakfast, peas and pork for
dinner, and for supper one or the other. The party proceeded from
Quebec to Sorel, where they spent the winter, living in their linen tents,
which afforded but little protection against the intense cold. While
they were staying there it was determined to grant them a township on
the Bay of Quinte. The first township had been granted to Captain
Grass and his party ; the second and third were to be taken by John-
son's Second Battalion; so Vanalstine's corps were to have the next.
Surveyor Holland was at that time engaged in completing the survey,
with his tent pitched on the shores of the fourth township. The party
left Sorel on the 21st of May, 1784, in a brigade of bateaux and
reached the fourth township on the 16th of the following month. The
travellers passed along where now stands the Adolphustown wharf,
westward nearly half a mile, and rounded a point known as Hager-
man's Point. Here a small, but deep, stream empties itself, having
coursed along through a small valley. They ascended this creek for
nearly a quarter of a mile and then landed upon its south side. Be-
tween the creek and the bay is a small eminence; it was on its slopes
that the settlers under Vanalstine pitched their tents. Thus housed,
and far removed from the busy haunts of men, this community con-
tinued to live for many days. Steps were speedily taken to divide the
land by lots. Each drew his 200 acres. Besides this, there was laid
out a town plot of 300 acres, regularly divided into town lots of one
acre each, and each settler obtained one of these. Alas, the town has
not thriven as these early arrivals expected. Canniff tells us that after
the magistrates were appointed, Vanalstine claimed the pre-eminence,
because he had been the military leader of the company in their jour-
neyings, but one Kuttan donned the uniform that he had worn as an
officer of the regular army and attended the meeting of the bench,
declaring that no one was his superior. Vanalstine submitted. Dr.
Smythe told us, in his interesting paper on " Early Law Courts," that
Peter Vanalstine and Gilbert Sharp were each fined 30 shillings for
absenting themselves, being Grand Jurors, from the Court of Quarter
Sessions at Kingston, held on 14th April, 1789. Dr. Smythe says
that this was the first court of which he could find any record.
NICHOLAS HAGEBMAN was one of those who followed Vanalstine's
lead into Canada. He settled on the lot on which the refugee party
landed, and on which the United Empire burial ground is now located
in front of the Village of Adolphustown. Canniff says that the spot
where his house stood has been washed away. He was a man of much
energy and shrewdness ; as to his education, Canniff remarks that " he
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 65
was a man of some education," but Mr. T. W. Casey says, " of not
mucn." Read says positively, " he was a man of education."
Canniff suggests that he studied law before he left New York. Be
that so or no, he was one of the first legally authorized to practice in
the new Province, and Adolphustown was his headquarters. By a
statute passed in the 34th year of the reign of George III. it was
stated that great inconvenience might ensue from the want of persons
duly authorized to practice the profession of law in this Province, and
then enacted that the Governor might authorize by license under his
hand and seal so many of His Majesty's liege subjects (not exceeding
sixteen in number) as he might deem, from their probity, education
and condition in life, best qualified to act as advocates and attorneys
in the conduct of all legal proceedings, and that upon producing such
license their names should be inscribed on the proper roll, to be
kept among the records of the Court of King's Bench. Nicholas
Hagerman was so licensed. He was called to the bar in Trinity Term,
1797", and was one of those who assembled on July 17 at Wilson's
Hotel, Newark, for the purpose of organizing the Law Society of
Upper Canada; he became a bencher thereof in Michaelmas term,
1799. The Honorable Richard Cartwright, who was at the time a
member of the Legislative Council, thus wrote of the sixteen gentle-
men made lawyers by the hand and seal of the Governor, Simcoe:
" Certain persons who without any previous study or training, and
by the mere magic of the privy seal, are at once to start up adepts in
the science of the law and proficients in the intricate practice of West-
minster Hall. This bill," he continues," was hurried through in a
manner not very decent. My proposal to have it printed previous to
discussion was overruled with some warmth and blustering, and you
will be astonished to hear that a law of such importance, and in con-
versation at least disapproved by several members of the lower house,
should be pressed through that House without debate and in a single
day." ("Life and Letters of Hon. Richard Cartwright," p. 60.) I
may add that all the fees these fortunate men had to pay were forty
shillings to the Governor's Secretary for the license, and thirteen shil-
lings and four pence to the Clerk of the King's Bench when inscrib-
ing their names on the list of practitioners. One of Nicholas Hager-
man's sons, Christopher, was aide-de-camp to the Governor-General
during the war of 1812-14. He studied law and practiced in Kings-
ton, was collector of customs here, and for years the member of the
city; in 1840 he was appointed Judge of the Queen's Bench, after
being both solicitor and attorney-general. His portrait has adorned our
66 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
city hall for many a year, except when it paid a visit to Government
House, Toronto, while the original's daughter, the wife of the late
Hon. J. Beverley Robinson, presided there. Another son, Daniel, prac-
ticed law in Bath, was elected member for the county, and his widow
was well known to many Kingstonians. For a time Adolphustown
was almost the hub of the Upper Canada universe; the Court of the
early days alternated between this village and Kingston, being holden
twice a year in each place. The Statute 33 Geo. III., Chap. 6, said on
the second Tuesdays of July and January in Adolphustown, and
second Tuesdays of April and October in Kingston. The first sittingE
was held in the barn of Paul Huff ; this airy and well ventilated build*
ing answered beautifully for the summer term, but when the wintei
court drew nigh application was made for the use of the Methodist
chapel, after some hesitation and some cynical remarks anent turning
a house of prayer into a den of thieves the use of that building was
granted and there the Court wais held. But this was years after the
date of our commission. Dr. Smythe found the name of Mr. Nicholas
Hagerman often appearing as counsel at the Quarter Sessions. He
says (Queen's Quarterly, 1896, p. 121) that Nicholas and his more
famous son, Christopher, were often employed as opposing counsel.
DANIEL WRIGHT. — Mr. Casey said he was an early settler of
Marysburgh; he was a sergeant in the 53rd Eegiment; wais granted
750 acres of land, having nine children born to him prior to 1791.
The descendants of that family are numerous and respectable both in
Marysburgh and Fredericksburgh. The old man lived and died near
Cressy. He was a very influential man in that neighborhood for many
a day.
ARCHIBALD MACDONNELL led the Foreign Legion, composed of
Hessians and a few Irish and Scotch, up in bateaux from Lower
Canada to the Township of Marysburgh that had just been laid out
on the south side of the bay and named after the Duchess of Glouces-
ter, the eleventh child of the king; this was in 1785. There were
probably about forty Hessians who settled here ; unacquainted with the
English language and unaccustomed to the profound solitude of the
forest and the fittings of the dark-skinned Indian often in a state of
semi-nudity, it is no reason for wonder if the Hessian felt otherwise
than contented in their wilderness home. They knew neither how to
fish nor to farm, so that when the government supplies were with-
drawn, after the usual three years, starvation began to stare them in
the face. All who could escaped to the more settled part of the coun-
try, some even finding their weary way back to the Fatherland. Cap-
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 67
tain Archibald Macdonnell, who had served in the 84th Regiment,
landed at the cove that now bears his name, and there pitched his tent
until he could build his log cabin. He was granted over one thousand
acres of land along the bay shore.
WILLIAM MAEST. — I think that the gentleman who so beautifully
engrossed the patent that we are considering nodded just here, and
that the name should have been written Marsh — I can find no trace
of a Marst ; but I do find that in the list of Justices in the Dominion
Archives at Ottawa the name of William Marsh, and that a William
Marsh was the grantee on a hundred acre lot in Sydney. Judge
Fralick, of Belleville, kindly tells me that William Marsh was the
second son of the twenty-four olive branches that clustered round the
table of Matthias Marsh, who took up a thousand acres in the town-
ship of Sidney, near Trenton, and another thousand near Consecon.
Matthias Marsh was the son of one Colonel William Marsh, of the
British army, who lost his all in the Revolution, came over to Canada,
but returning to Vermont — then an independent republic — died there.
Mr. A. H. Marsh, K.C., of Toronto, is — I am informed — a descend-
ant
J. W. MEYEES. — The commission has it Joseph W. Meyers; the
list in the Dominion Archives, John William Meyers; Sabine has it
John Waltermeyer (one word); iCianniff, John Walter Meyers; but
Judge Fralick — an old Belleville boy — assures me that the correct
name was John Walden — pronounced Walten, meaning Woods — and
I that the Walten by degrees became Walter, which name in one form or
the other has passed from children to grandchildren, boys and girls.
At the beginning of the Revolution, John W. was farming with his
father near Albany, and though father and brother identified them-
selves (according to Canniff) with the Continental, or Rebel, party,
John remained true to the old flag; but it was not until 1782 that
lie received his commission as captain from Governor Haldiinand.
During the war he, with ten men, made a bold attempt to capture
General Schuyler in Albany. One night they peered through the
windows and saw the General within, but when they got within he
had vanished and they found no trace of him although they searched
from cellar to attic. In the garret were a number of puncheons
turned upside down ; many of these were examined by the hunters,
but not all; when the cruel war was over Schuyler called on Meyers
and explained that he had been quietly curled up under one which
the searchers had not touched — so says Canniff. Sabine says that
when Meyers and his party entered the dwelling they began securing
(J8 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the General's plate before they had his person; that he, opening a win-
dow, cried out (to imaginary partisans, " Coine on, my brave fellows,
surround the house and seize the villains who are plundering," and
that this ruse scared away the Tories. On one occasion, in one of his
expeditions, he nearly perished from hunger, yet for days he carried
in his arms a favorite dog that had fallen sick for lack of food. This
he did — oh, tell it not in Gath — not because of his tender heart, but
because he knew not when he might want to kill and eat him. He
was often employed during the early days of the war in carrying
despatches from Canada to New York. Once, when in a friend's
house, he was nearly taken prisoner by the rebels; however, jumping
out of a window, he rushed for the woods ; he was seen and the enemy
on horseback gave chase; to make their way more easily through the
underbrush they dismounted and tied their horses and scattered.
Meyers crawled out of his near-by hiding place, picked out the best
horse, mounted and hied him on his way to New York. He went up
the Bay of Quinte about 1787, settled near where Belleville now is,
and built the first brick house erected there. The place was called
Meyersville, and the river was not then the Moira, but Meyers Creek.
He afterwards moved up to Sidney, where he had some three thousand
acres of land; however, he returned to Meyersville later. He was a
pioneer in mill building, in trading, and in sailing bateaux and
schooners up and down the bay.
STEPHEN GILBERT was a prominent and wealthy farmer, anid
resided west of Belleville, where descendants of the family have ever
since lived. His name frequently appears in the records of the early
Quarter Sessions held in Kingston and Adolphustown.
WILLIAM BOWEN lived and died on the most westerly lot in the
township of Kichmond fronting on the Bay, just adjoining where the
flourishing town of Deseronto now stands. He kept a large tavern
there for years. He was fortunate enough to get lot one in the first,
second, third and fourth concessions, as well as two in the third, thus
forming -a nice little farm of 1,150 acres. There are still numerous
descendants of his residing in that locality (says Casey). He was of
Irish descent; a lieutenant in the Indian Department, and was a
prominent government official among the Mohawks of Tyendinaga for
years ; he was popularly known as Captain Bowen — no doubt a militia
title. He passed away some fifty years ago.
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 69
EXPLANATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS.
The District of Mecklenburg was so callecUafter Queen Charlotte
of Mecklenburg- Strelitz. On the 24th July, ly 8, Guy, Lord Dorches-
ter, issued a proclamation, pursuant to two ordinances passed by the
Province of Quebec, establishing four districts in what is now known
as Ontario — Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nassau and Hesse, and one in
the eastern part of old Canada, called Gaspe. Lunenburg, called after
the grand-ducal family, of Brunswick-Lunenburg (a branch of the
House of Hanover) extending from what is now the western limits of
Quebec, to a north and south line intersecting the mouth of the river
Gananoque (then called the Thames) above the rifts of the St.
Lawrence; secondly, Mecklenburg, extending from Lunenburg to a
north and south line intersecting the mouth of the river Trent, and
including the several towns or tracts called or known by the names of
Pittsburg, Kingstown, Ernestown, Fredericksburg, Adolphustown,
Marysburg, Sophiasburg, Ameliasburg, Sydney, Thurlow, Eichmond
and Camden, and extending to the north bounds of the Province;
thirdly, Nassau (called after the family of William III., of great,
pious and immortal memory) extending westerly to a north and south
line intersecting the extreme projection of Long Point on Lake Erie;
and Hesse (so named after the principality that furnished so many
mercenaries for the royal cause during the American Revolutionary
war), which district included all the residue of the province in the
western or inland parts thereof.
On the same day as this proclamation is dated was the General
Commission of Peace for the District of Mecklenburg issued. In the
first session of the U. C. House the names of the districts were changed
to Eastern, Midland, Home and Western.
" Council." — Under the Quebec Act, 1774, a Council was appointed
by the Crown consisting of from seventeen to twenty-three residents
of the province, and the members were empowered to make ordinances
for the peace, welfare and good government of the province, with the
consent of His Majesty or his representative.
" Our Peace." — The peace of the king is that peace and security
for life and goods which the king promises to all people under his pro-
tection, and for which he is responsible. Originally it meant the im-
munity (secured by severe penalties) to all within the king's house, in
attendance upon him, or employed in his business, and gradually it has
been extended to all within the realm who are not outlaws.
70 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
" Within liberties as without." — A liberty is a place or district
within which certain special privileges may be exercised. In " The
Princess " we read :
We dropt with evening on a rustic town,
Set in a gleaming river's crescent curve,
Close to the boundary of the liberties.
" Threats." — By 27 Geo. II., c. 15, any person sending a letter
threatening to kill or murder any of His Majesty's servants, or to
burn their houses, barns or grain, was to suffer death without benefit
of clergy. By 30 Geo. c. 24, any one sending a letter threatening to
accuse any person of any crime punishable by death, or other infamous
punishment, with the object of extorting money, etc., was to be put in
the pillory, publicly whipped, or fined, or imprisoned, or transported
for not more than seven years, in the discretion of the court.
" Of whom any one of you the aforesaid Henry Pope, &c., we will
shall be one." — These words designate those justices who were of the
quorum, i.e., those whose presence is necessary to constitute a bench.
Among the Justices of the Peace it was formerly customary to name
some eminent for knowledge or prudence to be " of the quorum." The
distinction is now practically obsolete, and all justices are generally
" of the quorum."
Addison, in the Spectator, remarks, " I must not omit that Sir Eoger
is a justice of the quorum." Beaumont and Fletcher, in the " Scorn-
ful Lady," spell it " corum."
Of the thirteen esquires named in our commission residing within
the district only three were of the quorum, Clark, Washburn and
Singleton.
By the way, who can explain why Lord Dorchester did not name
any one residing in either village or town of Kingstown (as he calls it
in his proclamation) on this commission.
" Security for the peace." — When one makes oath before a Justice
of the Peace that he has been assaulted, or that he stand? in fear of
his life, or some bodily hurt, or that he fears his house will be burnt
and that he doth not demand the peace from any malice or revenge but
for his own safety, the J. P. grants his warrant to bring the accused
before him, and then security is to be given by recognizance for good
behaviour; or in default the party is to be committed to gaol.
"Felonies " are all offences which occasioned in old times a total
forfeiture of lands or goods, or both, at common law, and to which capi-
tal or other punishment may be superadded according to the degree of
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 71
guilt Old Coke says, of all felonies, murder is the most heinous.
Bringing " Buls " into the kingdom was a felony under a statute of
Richard II. ; or receiving a 'Jesuit under an act of Elizabeth.
" Poisonings." — Of all kinds of murder poisoning is the most
detestable, says Coke, because it is most horrible and fearful to the
nature of man, and of all others can be least prevented, either by man-
hood or providence. This offence was so odious that by Act of Parlia-
ment it was made high treason, and the statute inflicted a more grievous
and lingering death than the common law prescribed, viz., that the
offender be boiled to death in hot water ; under which statute Margaret
Davy, (anno 33 Henry VIII.) a young woman, was attainted of high
treason for poisoning her mistress and some others, was boiled to death
in Smithfield the 17th day of March in the same year. But this act
was too severe to live long and was therefore repealed by 1 Edw. VI..,
chap. 12, and 1 Mary, chap. 1.
Old Coke tells us a man may be poisoned in four manner of ways,
" gustu, by taste, that is, by eating or drinking, being infused into his
meat or drink ; two, arihelitu, by taking in of breath, as by a poysonous
perfume in a chamber, or other room; three, contactu, by touching,
and four, suppositu, as by a glyster or the like. Now, for the better
finding out of this horrible offence, there be divers of kinds of poysons,
as the powder of diamonds, the powder of spiders, lapis causticus (the
chief ingredient whereof is soap), cantharides mercury sublimate,
arsenick, roseacre, &c."
" Enchantments, sorceries, arts magick." — Witchcraft, enchant-
ment, sorcery and the practice of magical arts generally went together
in the minds of our ancestors. Dorchester says nothing of witchcraft,
which is the bargaining with the devil by friendly conference to do
whatever was desired by him. He still seemed, however, to fear the
other offences. An enchanter was one who by songs or rhymes demonem
adjuvat; a conjurer was he who by the holy and powerful name of the
Almighty invoked and conjured the devil to consult with him or to do
some act; a sorcerer was one who used lots in his intercourse with the
devil.
According to the act passed in the first year of King James I.—
who was an expert and specialist in the matter of witchcraft — if any
person or persons should use, practice or exercise any invocation or
conjuration of any evil or wicked spirit, or should consult, covenant with,
entertain, employ, feed or reward any evil or wicked spirit, to or for any
intent or purpose, or take up any dead man, woman or child out of his,
72 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
her or their grave, or any other place where the dead body rested, or
the skin, bone, or any part of a dead person, to be employed or used in
any manner of witchcraft, sorcery, charm or enchantment; or should
use, exercise or practice any witchcraft, enchantment, charm or sorcery,
whereby any person shall be killed, destroyed, wasted, consumed, pined
or lamed in his or her body or any part thereof; that then every such
offender or offenders, their aiders, abettors and counsellors, being of any
of said offences duly and lawfully convicted and attainted, should suffer
pains of death as a felon or felons, and should lose the privilege, of
clergy and sanctuary. If any person or persons took upon him or them
by witchcraft, charm or sorcery to tell or declare in what place any
treasure of gold or silver should or might be found, or had, in the earth,
or other secret places, or where goods or other things lost or stolen should
be found or become, or to the intent to provoke any person to unlawful
love, or whereby any cattle or goods of any person should be destroyed,
-or to hurt or destroy any person in his or her body, although the same
'be not affected or done, being therefor lawfully convicted should for
the said offence suffer imprisonment for a whole year without bail or
mainprize, and once in every quarter of said year he should stand in the
pillory upon some market day or fair day and there confess his or her
^error and offence; for the second offence it was death.
The statute of James was repealed by 9 George II., chap. 5, which
enacted that no proceedings should be had against any person for witch-
craft, sorcery, enchantment, or conjuration, or for charging another
with such crimes, and that whoever should pretend to exercise such
arts, or should undertake to tell fortunes or pretend by crafty science
to discover stolen goods should be imprisoned for one year, stand four
times in the pillory, and find sureties as the court should think fit.
It is strange that after the act of George II., Dorchester should have
spoken of " enchantments, sorceries and arts magick."
' Trespasses." — A trespass is .an injury committed by one on the
person or property of another, with violence, actual or implied ; a kiss
snaitched from an unwilling kissee, an entry on another's land, are
trespasses.
" Forestalling " is any attempt to enhance the common price of any
commodity, or -any kind of an act that has an apparent tendency
thereto, whether by spreading false rumors, or by buying things in a
market before the accustomed hour, or by buying and selling the same
thing^in the same market, or by any such like device; and all such acts
are highly criminal at common law. Any such attempt was an offence
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 73
against the public, inasmuch as it apparently tended to put a check on
trade, to the general inconvenience of the people, by putting it out of
their power to provide themselves with a commodity without an un-
reasonable expense.
In 1778 speculators in Canada had run the price of wheat from
four shillings a bushel up to ten shillings — equal to about four dollars
of our present money. There was plenty of wheat in the country. In
MJontreal and Quebec it was hard to make bakers carry on business,
because the price of bread was fixed. This state of things continued
for a couple of years; the export of wheat was forbidden and Haldi-
mand issued a proclamation against forestallers.
" Regrating." — According to 5 and 6 Edw. VI., chap. 2, a regrater
is one who obtains in any fair or market any corn, wine, fish, butter,
cheese, candles, tallow, sheep, lambs, calves, swine, pigs, geese, capons,
hens, chickens, pigeons, conies or other dead victual whatsoever, and
sells them again in any fair or market in the same place or within four
miles. Salt is a victual within that statute, for it seasoneth and
maketh wholesome beef, pork and other victual. Apples and cherries
and such like fruit are not within the purview of the statute, because
they are not necessary for the food of man.
" Ingrossings." — By the same statute of Edw. VI., whosoever shall
ingross or get into his hands by buying, contracting or promise taking
(other than by obtaining land or tithes) any corn growing in the fields
or any other corn or grain, cheese, butter, fish, or other dead victual
whatsoever, to the intent to sell the same >again, shall be reputed an
unlawful ingrosser.
" Extortions " refers to the taking of money by any officer by color
of his office either when none at all is due or not so much is due, or
when it is not yet due; originally it was considered extortion for any
sheriff or other officer concerned in the administration of justice to
take any fee or reward for doing his office, except what he received
from the King. The excessive costs of law had become so great in
Canada as to demand the interference of the Government to restrain
and adjust it. Carleton had made several efforts <to regulate the fees,
but with very inadequate success.
" Eiding With Force."— By 2 Edw. III. it was enacted that no
one (unless lawfully authorized) was to go or ride armed by day or by
night, in fair, market, nor in <any place elsewhere, upon pain to for-
feit their armour to the King, and their bodies to prison at the King's
pleasure.
74 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
i
" Lying in Wait." — Lie in wait — formerly also " lie in await "•
as Chaucer hath it:
"These homicides alle
That in awayte lyggen to mordre men."
means to lie in ambush.
"Victuallers." — If the newly-made magistrates had desired to
know the law as to victuals and victuallers, they would have had to
read over forty pages of Hawkins' Pleas of the Crown. Hawkins says
that the intention of the Legislature, both in enacting and in repeal-
ing the various and numerous statutes on these subjects, in accommo-
dation to the exigencies of various periods of time, was to regulate the
price of victuals, and to prevent them being constantly raised upon, or
improperly introduced to, the public by the respective dealers thereof.
He deals with the laws as to the measure of corn, as to the making,
size and price of bread, as to beer, butter and cheeses, cattle and
butchers, fish, bacon and pork, hay and straw, fruit, honey and wax,
coal, etc. Some of the statutes then in force went back to the days of
Elizabeth. We find the following entry, made at a Special Session,
held in Kingston, Monday, 12th September, 1796 : " The average price
•of bread being twenty shillings, it is ordered that the assize of bread
for a four-pound loaf of fine wheaten flour be .9 pence, and that a
brown loaf, weighing six pounds, be 9 pence currency. The bakers are
ordered to mark their loaves with the initial letters of their names."
The assize of bread is the settling the weight and price thereof.
" Weight and Measure." — We may note that apples and pears had
to be sold by water measure and by no other measure, and. the meas-
ure had to be heaped. In London every barrel of beer had to contain
36 gallons, ale, 32 gallons, while in other places either ale or beer was
to be 34 gallons; hay and straw had to be sold in trusses of certain
weight, varying according to its being old or new. An Act of 1792
provided that in Upper Canada, after May 1st, 1793, " There should
be one just beam or balance, one certain weight and measure, and one
yard, according to the standard of his Majesty's Exchequer in
England.
" Officials." — Sheriffs, bailiffs, stewards, constables, gaolers and
other officers. This sentence had a populous ring about it, but in those
days there were none of them round Kingston, save perchance a con-
stable and sheriff.
"Indictments." These are written accusations against one or
more persons of a crime or misdemeanor, preferred to and presented
upon oath by a grand jury.
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 75
" Laws of England." — By 14 Geo. III., ch. 83 (the Quebec Act),
all of New France and Newfoundland was during his Majesty's
pleasure annexed to and made part and parcel of the Province of
Quebec; and as the certainty and lenity of the criminal law of Eng-
land and the benefits and advantages resulting from the use of it had
been sensibly felt by the inhabitants from an experience of more than
nine years, it was enacted that the same ishould be administered and
observed as law in the Province of Quebec, as well in the description
and quality of the offence, as in the method of prosecution and trial,
and the punishments and forfeitures thereby inflicted, to the exclusion
of every other rule of criminal law or mode of proceeding therein;
subject, however, to any alterations or amendments, a® might be made
by the Governor and Legislative Council.
The first statute of Simcoe's first Parliament introduced into
Upper Canada the English law in all matters of controversy relative
to property and civil rights.
" Fines " are money payments exacted as a punishment of an.
offence or a dereliction of duty. Shakespeare says :
44 My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding,
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of same."
Doubtless the immortal William had experienced both fines and
amercements.
" Ransoms " are payments for liberation from restraint or pun-
ishment.
" Amerciaments " are pecuniary penalties inflicted upon an
offender at the discretion of the Court. They differ from fines, in
that the latter are fixed and certain sums prescribed by statute, while
amerciaments are arbitrary.
" Forfeitures " are the divesting of property, or the termination of
a right, by or in consequence of a wrong, default or breach of a condi-
tion ; also the things forfeited.
" Other Means." — The records in the office of the Clerk of tKe
Peace in this city show that some of the other means used in those
good old days were floggings with forty stripes save one, imprison-
ments, the stocks, and labelling a man as a thief, or other transgressor,
somewhat after the manner of " The Scarlet Letter."
" Late our Justices of the Peace in the aforesaid District." — We
find that Neil McLean, W. R. Crawford, James Parrot, Jeptha
Hawley, Peter Yanalstine, and Michael Grass were among those jus-
76 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
tices who signed the letter from the magistrates at Cataraqui, dated
22nd December, 1786, to Sir John Johnston, Bart., in reply to his
circular, requesting suggestions as to the best ways of improving the
population, the state of agriculture and the settlement of the King's
lands.
"Our Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench." — William
Smith, to whom we will presently refer, was the Chief Justice.
William Osgoode was the first Chief Justice of Upper Canada, and,
appears to have been appointed in 1792.
The first Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, nominated for
the District of Mecklenburg, were John Stuart, Neil McLean and
James Clark; but John Stuart being a divine and chiefly concerned
about settling the spiritual concerns of the people of the district, at
once declined to attend to the arranging of their temporal difficulties.
" Our Justices Specially Appointed to Hold the Assizes in the
Aforesaid District." — The Records of the Quarter Sessions, under
date of 12th October, 1789, show that an Assize was held in that year.
It reads as follows : " A Court of Oyer and Terminer having been held
for the District of Mecklenburg on the 28th September last, at which
all business for this district was settled, the Justices having taken into
consideration the great inconvenience that would arise to the good
people of the district on being again called together at this time, and
the little necessity there was for calling them, as no new business
appeared to require it, they therefore declined issuing any precept to
summon any jury to attend at this session." Who presided at that
Court of Assize ? According to Mr. D. B. Read's " Lives of the
Judges," the first Court held by Osgoode, C.J., was in Kingston on
23rd August, 1792.
William Redford Crawford was immediately after the issue of the
commission we are considering appointed '.Our Sheriff of the said
District of Mecklenburg." He does not appear to have long held the
office. Dr. Symthe speaks of one Philip Lansing being sheriff in
1790. He owned land to the north of the city, towards Kingston
Mills.
The first " Keeper of the Rolls of Our Peace " of this District was
Peter Clark, who held the offices of Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas, of the Peace, and of the Sessions of the Peace. We find from
''' The Memoirs of Colonel John Clark " (0. H. S. Papers, Vol. VII.)
that this worthy was the son of a soldier, and began life in the Indian
trade at Kingston; afterwards, when Governor Simcoe in 1792 inaug-
urated the Government of Upper Canada, Peter was appointed Chief
FIRST COMMISSION OF PEACE FOR DISTRICT OF MECKLENBURG. 77
Clerk of the Legislative Council. He also was connected with the naval
establishment in some way, for as such he accompanied the Duke of
Kent (the late Queen's father) across Lake Ontario on his way to
visit Simcoe at Niagara in 1795. He was the patentee of Lot 3, west
of the great River Cataraqui. Clark became involved in a quarrel
with one Captain Sutherland, of tke 4th Regiment, and was killed b$
him in a duel at Kingston in 1795.
This would be a good place to apologize to his Excellency the
British Ambassador at Washington for our using the name Kingston.
We should doubtless have kept to the old Indian word Cataraqui,
especially as it is, like the immortal Shakespeare's, a very easy name
to spell, there being authority for over fifty ways of writing it. Here
are the variations — Cataraqui, Cadarachqui, Cadarachquin, Cadarac-
qui, Cadaracquy, Cadarackque, Cadaraggue, Cadaraghie, Cadaragh-
qui, Cadaraggqua, Cadaragque, Cadaragquet, Caradague, Cadarake,
Cadarakue, Cadaraqua, Cadaraqui, Cadaraquin, Cadaraquy, Cadar-
achqui, Cadarogque, Gadarakoui, Cadararuchque, Cadaraque, Cad-
arachqui, Cadaracqui, Caderaqui, Caderaquy, Cadraqua, Cadraqui,
Catarachqua, Catarachqui, Cataracoui, Cataracouy, Cataraeque, Cat-
aracqui, Cataract, Cataracwa, Cataragque, Cataraque, Cataroque, Cat-
taraque, Chadarachqui, Kadaraghue, Kadaraghkie, Kadarachque,
Kadraghkie, Kalaroqiie, Quadarachqui, Quadraqui, Catarakwee,
Cadarakin. And, doubtless, there are others.
" Castle of St. Louis."— From " The Picture of Quebec " (pub-
lished in 1829) I quote as follows: " The Castle of St. Lewis is the
resident of the Governor, and from its peculiar situation it consti-
tutes one of the principal objects of notice, in all views of the city,
from Beauport easterly to the Chaudiere. At its base the rock is
nearly 200 feet in perpendicular height, and the building on the east
is sustained by strong stone buttresses, on which is laid a wide bal-
cony, extending along the whole length, and whence the beauties of the
northern and eastern landscapes are beheld. The building is of three
stories, about fifty-four yards in length and fifteen yards deep, with
small wings. Since the last repairs in 1809 its interior is conveniently
arranged, and in its superior apartments are tastefully decorated. To
it are attached all the buildings suitable and convenient to the digni-
fied station of the Provincial Executive Chief. The garden is on the
south-west of the castle — in length nearly thirty poles and in breadth
from the wall to the Rue des Carrieres about seventy yards. On the
opposite side of the street, in front of which stands the monument to
Wolfe and Montcalm, is a lot, 100 yards long by 84 broad, which,
78 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
having been designed as a public walk, was formally planted with
trees to shade the pedestrians ; at present, however, it is appropriated
as an additional garden for the .service of the Governor. The Castle,
by its partial exclusion from sight by the gloomy walls of the buildings
in front, loses much of .its impressiveness >and attraction."
Sir Frederick Haldimand built the Castle; fire destroyed it in
1834.
(NOTE. — The reader will please look at the Great Seal of the
Province of Quebec (ante) and imagine " the conclusion " of this
paper.)
VI.
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
BY W. S. ELLIS, B.A.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of th« O. H. S. at Kingston, July 18th, 1907. )
I.— THE ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH.
To-morrow, when you have looked over the parapet of Fort Henry,
and have enjoyed the view up the river and down; when the actual
landscape is spread before you, or, at least, still fresh in memory;
when there is the stimulation of new scenes and the buoyancy that
comes with fresh breezes and bright sunshine, I shall ask you, in
imagination, to view the first water parade on the St. Lawrence. To
do so you will have to suppose that Time has rolled back his scroll for
two and a third centuries, to a time when Charles II. was still upon
the throne of England, when men were flocking to hear Bunyan preach,
when Milton was revising his " Paradise Lost " for the publisher,
when Pepys and Evelyn were gathering the gossip and sentiment of
London taverns to amuse and instruct the twentieth century, when
men were yet living on the shore of Massachusetts Bay who had come
over in the Mayflower, when Boyle had not yet found that air had
weight, or Newton discovered the law of gravitation. You will have
to suppose also that the fort has utterly vanished ; that the glacis has
reverted to the original rocky promontory with front battle scarred by
storm and war, thrust defiantly out into the current; that the height
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON. 79
is again thickly wooded, and that everywhere in sight there are only
the greens of the forest and the blue of the sparkling waters.
If, then, on the morning of July 12th, 1673, we had been per-
mitted, iamid such surroundings, to join a group of Iroquois warriors
who were lurking behind tree trunks and boulders upon the hill top
and peering down the river, we would have witnessed a display unique
even on the St Lawrence, where water carnivals abound, and one that
if it could be repeated would bring joy to any canoe club, for even
amid our spectacular excitements it would draw admiring crowds from
city streete to watch it. Interesting, too, as the event would be to-day
it was much more so then, for it took place amid the stillness of the
vast wilderness, 150 miles beyond the nearest straggling settlement
at Lachine ; but it was chiefly significant in that it marked the advent
of the white man as a conqueror and a power on the great inland
waters of the continent.
On watch that morning, we would have seen emerge from the
island passages a great flotilla of canoes, said to have been 120 in num-
ber, that convoyed two brightly painted barges, above which floated
the Lilies of France, the symbol of sovereignty wherever they were set
up in this New World. There, too, was the Governor from Quebec and
all the chief men of the colony, clad in the brilliant vestments charac-
teristic of their time and nation, and surrounded by their retinues.
As the pageant drew near we watchers would have noticed, just
as the savages did note, the ordered regularity with which the proces-
sion came on. First, an advance guard of canoes in double rank and
iii squadrons at regular distances apart; right and left of the bateaux
flanking divisions were ranged at equal intervals; then the
Governor and his staff, while behind was a rear guard again
in double rank. This ordered advance was for the purpose of
impressing those unseen spectators who the Governor knew were
watching his approach, from every point of vantage along the shore that
they might decide whether he was a power to be taken seriously or to
be met with the contumely that had been the lot of his predecessors.
He well understood the awesome effect of great and machine-like
regularity of movement on those whose whole experience had been of
individual action and of consequent disorder; he well knew the bar-
baric love of brilliant coloring and the savage delight in rhythmic
noise and rhythmic motion; hence, the oncoming of the fleet in war
array, regular of alignment, even of movement, irresistible in its pro-
gress, with banners and uniforms and trumpet notes, all designed to
make deep the impress that reached the savage mind.
80 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
As the fleet swept up past Cedar Island and Point Frederick it
swung to the right until it reached a point just beyond the present
Cataraqui Bridge; here was a little sheltered bay, the mouth of an
outflowing creek, with a low, shelving rocky shore, where canoes were
pulled up and the weary journey of fourteen days from Lachine came
to an end. Last Friday was the two hundred and thirty-fourth anni-
versary of that landing; and to-morrow, when you are passing the
barrack gate and see the sentry walking his beat, it may not be out
of place to recall the fact that 234 years ago the tread of the guard of
Frontenac's camp at this place first mingled with the sound of lapping
waves, and nightly since that time, with but two brief interruptions,
marching footsteps have echoed back from sounding waters. You will
then be standing on a few square yards of ground round which clus-
ters a fair share of the history, of the romance, and of the final tragedy
of New France. Such was the impressive, even if somewhat grim and
ominous preliminary to the building of Fort Frontenac and the found-
ing of Kingston. Grim and ominous, however, were not wholly out
of keeping either with the origin or later history of a place that until
a few years ago ranked as one of the three strongest military posts in
British America.
II.— FRONTENAC AND LA SALLE.
After the arrival of the French a meeting was arranged with the
Iroquois delegation that was encamped on a rocky ledge where the
Locomotive Works and Dry Dock are now situated. From the back-
ground of flickering shadows about that council fire two figures stand
out distinct and large as leaders among men and builders amid the
chaotic elements of empire that lay around them. One was the Count
of Frontenac, a nobleman of long descent, quick to fight and strong
to hate. Among his peers the high bred dignitary, the Governor of
New France, the representative of the most powerful king in Europe ;
on the journey, a voyageur ready to shoulder a pack at the portage
or to push a canoe up the rapids. Endowed with boundless energy
he had the capacity for inspiring others, and could get even Indians
to work. As a clear-headed, vigorous administrator, he easily takes
first place among French governors, and his reputation was such that
even the truculent Iroquois dreaded him, for they never raised a fin-
ger to disturb the colony during his whole period of office ; yet he was
engaged in constant bickerings with his associates, and kept king and
council busy arranging his unseemly disputes. He could outdo Big-
mouth, the Indian orator, in the bombastic puerilities that passed for
LA SALLE.
lie produced by the kindness of the " British Whiij," Kingston.
Reproduced bit the kindness of ihe "British Wli'uj," Kin>t>
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON. 81
eloquence, and at dance and feast could set a pace that only the most
agile and enduring could support. He twice rescued the colony from
the destruction that seemed inevitable and changed the course of New
World history by stemming the hostile tide that threatened to sweep
French settlers and French influence alike out of the St. Lawrence
basin.
The other of the two was Robert Cavelier, better known as the
Sieur de la Salle, from the family estate at Rouen, a man who ranks
high among the world's great explorers, yet a taciturn, determined
man, whom neither the embarrassments of financial reverses, nor the
intrigues of jealous superiors, nor the treachery of plotting rivals, nor
the hostility of warring savages could turn from his purpose. Driven
on by one supreme impulse that France should dominate the continent,
he followed the great central basin from Lake Erie to the Gulf of
Mexico, and took possession of it all, so that at his death in 1687, a
traveller might have journeyed from the tides of the St. Lawrence to
the tides of the Mississippi either by a short portage south of Lake
Erie or by another west of Lake Michigan, and all the land by which
he passed would have been the land of France, so far as exploration
and claims based thereon could give title. A strange ill fortune dogged
his footsteps, however, and hindered him from reaping either reputa-
tion or reward from his great achievement. Finally misfortune grew
into disaster, then a murderer's hand pulled down the curtain on his
adventurous life while yet he was in the early vigor of matured man-
hood. His body lay unburied in a Louisiana swamp, but the story of
his struggles and his successes found safe sepulchre amid the oblivion
of official records until rescued and made public by a member of that
alien race whose expansion he had so vigorously combatted throughout
his whole life.
We are standing to-night on ground that formed part of La Salle' s
seigneury, adjoining Fort Frontenac, which was granted to him by the
King of France, the first of the kind made in what is now Ontario.
To-morrow you will pass over the site of the fort which he built and
which stood from 1677 until 1820. This city is more intimately asso-
ciated with the career of the great explorer than any other place except
one, his headquarters site beyond Lake Michigan; yet it is hardly
credible, and certainly is not creditable, that neither in this city or
neighborhood is there land or building or street or square or any thing
82
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
or plaxje, that bears a name in commemoration of the man whose career
has given added honor to the city through his connection with it.
III. -WHY FORT FRONTENAC WAS FOUNDED.
Of all the scenes that passed before the men of the fleet that day as
they paddled round Point Henry, possibly that which set pulses beat-
AN ANCIENT PLAN INDEED.
Reproduced by the kindness of the "British Whig," Kingtton,
Here is a plan of Fort Frontenac in 1787, taken from Abbe" Foilll^n's
"History of Vrlle Marie (Montreal)." The fort building, and the storehouse,
stable and garden in front, were the only signs of habitation of the place, save
the Recollet church, a small wooden structure, standing two hundred yards
west, between the present Princess and Queen Streets, about the location of
Andrew Maclean's store. The fort here shown was evacuated and destroyed by
Governor Denonville in 1689, and restored by Count de Frontenac on his
return in 1695.
ing most quickly and thoughts running most rapidly was the glimpse
between the islands toward the western horizon as they came up the
river. It might well have called up visions of that fabled West whence
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON. 83
strange stories had already begun to filter out through the medium of
the bushranger and the fur trader. Priest and explorer had already
begun to go that way, and La Salle, Frontenac' s envoy to the Iroquois
to-day, had four years since gone far beyond that horizon's rim to
where lands slope down the other way and waters run toward a west-
ern sea. For two years he had paddled those streams and roamed those
forests, led on by that lure which the wilderness has ever had for men
of adventurous mind. And this very day on which Count Frontenac
is getting his first glimpse of the great lakes, Pere Marquette and his
fellow voyager, Joliet, are fifteen hundred miles beyond, paddling
down the Mississippi below the present city of Memphis, and two days
later, when the Governor will be holding his Indian pow-wow down
on the river bank, the good priest will be turning the bow of his canoe
up stream to escape the hostile tribes that dwelt where the Arkansas
joins the Father of Waters. Some dim realization, then, of the possi-
Ibilities for France that lay beyond that gap may well have set pulses
beating and thoughts running in the brain of the Governor.
The immediate founding of the fort, however, was due partly to a
splendid dream of empire that had its nesting place in the brain of
La Salle, partly to the prudent generalship and statesmanship of
Count Frontenac, and altogether, so the Montreal fur traders alleged,
to the Governor's desire to make illicit gain by abusing the king's
prerogative and degrading the high office which he held. Be that as it-
may, the dream that dwelt in the brain of La Salle was this: That
there should be a !N"ew France, a mighty empire, embracing all that
westward country whose fringe he already knew slightly by explora-
tion, dimly by tales that reached him concerning it, and still more
vaguely by conjecture. Westward it should extend along the great
waterways into that far unknown concerning whose limits neither
wood runner nor missionary enthusiast had yet brought word. South-
ward, too, it should sweep over the great plains whose wonderful rich-
ness the Indians had told of, and through which flowed that mighty
river so great that whence it came none knew, and none knew whither
it flowed. By thus pre-empting the whole interior of the continent
with its two great waterways, the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi,
he hoped to shut the enemies of France, the Saxon and the Spaniard,
into the narrow strip of seaboard plain that lay between the moun-
tains and the Atlantic coast, and which stretched from the Bay of
84 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Fundy to the Florida Straits. He proposed, also, to make provision
so that if at any time in the future a wave of hostile population should
overtop the enclosing barrier and flow downward toward the plains it
would encounter forts and armed garrisons ready to drive it back into
its own preserves again. Such was the plan submitted to Count
Frontenac, and the Governor was wise to see its significance and quick
to take action to carry it into effect. Manifestly the preliminary work
of this empire building would be the establishment of strongholds at
strategic points on the great waterways to control traffic, to become
supply depots and centres for barter, to offer protection in case it
should be necessary to stand at bay, and to serve as bases from which
aggressive expeditions might be launched at suitable times against
hostile tribes or trespassing neighbors. So a fort for each end of
Lake Ontario was decided on.
A second factor, though, that had to be dealt with was the Iroquois'
ascendancy and their hostility to the French. It is customary to refer
the former to the position which their country occupied as the border-
land of two warring nations who were contending for the possession
of a continent, and each for the dominancy of a principle to which
the other was hostile, so that the Indian alliance would be the deter-
mining element in the struggle. But the Iroquois had another advan-
tage that is not so generally noted. I think it was Justin Winsor who
pointed out that they occupied a country from which the streams
flowed outward in all directions, so that they controlled the communi-
cations and the trade outlet of the St. Lawrence and the Mohawk, the
only two feasible routes of the time. They held the former from the
Niagara to the Eichelieu, and its tributaries were the by-ways through
their country. The Mohawk valley was the common highway through
their land from Lake Erie to the Hudson. At the doors of their vil-
lages they could launch their canoes upon streams that would carry
them by the St. Lawrence to Montreal or Quebec, by the Hudson to
New York, by the Susquehanna to the Delaware bays, by the Alle-
ghany and Ohio to the prairies of the central basin, and by the great
lakes to the Huron villages on Georgian Bay or the country of the
Illinois beyond Lake Michigan. They thus held control of the traffic
of the whole lake basin and of the upper Mississippi valley, except
the driblet that found its way from Mackinac by the Ottawa route,
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
85
and they turned that trade over to the French at Montreal or the
English at Albany, as they chose, and generally they chose the latter.
Even in those days when the birch bark was the only freighter,
Riviere de Frontenac
c
Oil
CATARAC0VI
A PLAN 140 YEARS OLD.
Reproduced by the kindness of the "British Whig," Kingston.
This is a reproduction of a plan of Port Frontenac in 1754, given by the
writer of the memoirs of the French occupation from 1750 to 1760, supposed
to be Captain Vanquelin, of the navy of France. The plan was evidently made
from memory by a poor draftsman, as the representation is far from perfect
as to ground lines. But it is quite interesting as showing the character of the
fort and buildings. It will be noticed that the great Gataraqui originally bore
the name of the River Frontenac.
when the paddle had not yet been supplanted even by the sail, and
when the cargo was always a pack of dried skins in the bow of the
canoe, the problem of rival routes to the coast was pressing for solu-
86
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
tion. Then, as now, opposing nations held the outlets ; and ports on the
Atlantic seaboard and ports in the St. Lawrence valley were striving
to control the output of the lake basin and tributary districts. Through
all the changes of time and circumstance the struggle for the export
carrying trade is the same as it was when Count Frontenac settled the
matter for fifty years by permitting no rivals to enter his field of
supply. The reason for the persistence of this problem is that from
Hudson Bay to Georgia there are but two natural inlets to the central
part of the continent. One of these is the St. Lawrence, which needs
no further mention. The other is due to the fact that in some past
geologic age a mighty river flowed southward through New York State
and cut a great chasm in the rocky crust. Later the whole area sank
until that river bed is below tide level, and for 150 miles from New
York Bay to Albany this would be an arm of the sea if it were not a
part of the continental drainage system, so kept filled with fresh water.
This would be of no interest in itself, but from the head of this ravine
a great level valley stretches for four hundred miles to Lake Erie, and
in all that distance there is a rise of scarcely five hundred feet. Here
in the old days of Iroquois supremacy was the land of the Mohawks,
and the river of the Mohawks still flows in its bottom lands. Here of
old the trapper coming down the lake with his beaver skins either took
the St. Lawrence to Montreal or turned the head of his canoe up the
river of the Onondagas, portaged over to the Mohawk, and thus
reached the seaboard; and the price received determined the route.
To-day the point of divergence has been shifted to Lake Erie, but the
ways are the same as when Fort Frontenac was built to control the
inland traffic and secure it for French merchants.
THE END.
Over on the south shore an Englishman had established a trading
post at the mouth of the river of the Onondagas in 1722. About the
middle of the century this had grown into the formidable Fort
Oswego, a rival of the one on the Cataraqui, and peltries again went
to Albany to the chagrin of French fur traders. In these days, how-
ever, great events were rapidly chasing one another. In 1751 the first
armed vessel on Lake Ontario was built at Fort Frontenac, a three-
masted ship equipped with heavy cannon; and the fort became a very
important supply depot for the western posts, both as a storage place
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON.
87
for materials and as a garrison reserve quarters. In 1756 Montcalm
fitted out here an expedition of 3,000 men for the capture of Fort
Oswego. This force was conveyed in boats over past the head of
REFERENCES
A«GovTHousE
B 'LOTS RES"."
G- INDIAN STORE
D-SCHDDLHOUSE
E- • • MASTERS
F «RES Y^.p
<*' " • •• QUARRY
H-R)RTFRDNTENAC
1796
Reproduced by the kindness of the " News," Kingston.
Wo]fe Island to the south shore, thence along the coast to its destina-
tion. Without much difficulty the stronghold was captured, and the
French secured 1,400 prisoners, together with a great quantity of sup-
83 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
plies, thus wiping out every vestige of English power on Lake Ontario,
Then La Salle's empire seemed nearest its realization, for Trench posts
dominated alike the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. But " the
ancient game of war" was being played on the borders of French
Canada with a vigor that had not hitherto characterized it; and one
of the moves that counted much in the final reckoning was made by a
certain Colonel Bradstreet, a New England militia officer, who had
transported a great convoy of stores to Oswego shortly before its cap-
ture, and had fought his way through an intercepting French force
that had attempted to bar his return. Montcalm got the provisions,
and Bradstreet gained an experience which enabled him to form a
plan for the capture of Fort Frontenac; but for two years interest
was centred on the events by Lake George and on the Atlantic coast.
Montcalm, hard pressed for soldiers, had drafted off the garrison until
scarcely a hundred men were left to guard the fortress, which con-
tained a very large quantity of supplies, and had nine armed vessels
anchored under its walls. In 1758 Abercrombie, who commanded the
English army on the Hudson, gave Bradstreet 3,000 men and the
necessary equipment to carry out his plan. On August 22nd they
launched their boats at the mouth of the Oswego River, where black-
ened ruins marked the position of the British stronghold that had been
blown up two years before. Three days later a landing was made
within a mile of Fort Frontenac. Next day a breastwork was thrown
up which ran from the water's edge east of the C.P.R. station, across
the site of the city hall and westward through the market square to
the corner of Brock and King Streets. Here guns were mounted, and
at the short range of a couple of city blocks, the English began to
knock Fort Frontenac to pieces. The French commander decided that
the contest was hopeless and surrendered everything on August 27th,
1758. Then the Lilies of France ran down from the flagstaff where
eighty-five years before Count Frontenac had hoisted them on that
July day when his fleet of canoes rounded into the little wooded bay
on the " Kataracoi." Henceforth another symbol of sovereignty will
float above the post.
Then the first chapter in the history of Kingston was closed. The
wilderness again resumed its own, and green woods grew down to the
margin of the blue waters; but the record of the post on the Cataraqui
was written large in the annals of French Canada, so that neither
SOME EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON. 89
wilderness nor foe could obliterate the memory of a fortress that
Frontenac had founded, that La Salle had owned, that Denonville had
wrecked, that Shirley had threatened, that Montcalm had commanded,
that Bradstreet had captured. Soon the name New France was wiped
from the map, and the empire that La Salle dreamed of passed to
those Saxon foes that refused to be shut between the Adirondacks and
the sea. To me a man of that alien race, reared amid other teachings,
there is something extremely pathetic in the outcome of the long
struggle that was carried on for France in the New World. However
much we may rejoice that fate rung down the curtain of national life
upon the St. Lawrence rather than upon the Hudson, we cannot but
feel regret that the splendid courage, the brilliant daring, the initia-
tive and the perseverance of those who bore the brunt of that struggle
should have been doomed to final disaster. Probably only in Montreal
and Quebec is the pathos of the tragedy of the St. Lawrence valley
more pronounced than it is on this spot where we are assembled
to-night.
VII.
EAKLY HISTOKY OF THE ANGLICAN CHUKCH IN
KINGSTON.
BY KEV. AKCHDEACON McMoRiNE, D.D.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the 0. H. S. at Kingston, July 19th, 1907.)
Although at the time of the Revolutionary War nearly two and a
half centuries had elapsed since Europeans first set foot in Canada,
yet the present Province of Ontario may be said to have been unin-
habited. Only after peace had been concluded did the great north-
ward movement of the United Empire Loyalists begin. A consider-
THE ORIGINAL ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.
Reproduced by the kindnett of the " Newt" Kingston.
able number of refugees, it is true, had ere this found shelter in Nova
Scotia and Quebec, but, the men who first peopled the banks of the
Upper St. Lawrence, the Bay of Quinte, and the Niagara District,
came over during the decade beginning with 1783. It is supposed that
about 10,000 of these sturdy patriots found asylum in what is now the
Province of Ontario. Ecclesiastically, a very small proportion of them
were members of the Church of England.
90
EARLY HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN KINGSTON. 91
The Hon. Richard Cartwright, who knew whereof he affirmed, con-
sidered himself warranted in asserting, in a statement made in the
year 1792, that in all the Province of Upper Canada, there were not
one hundred families who had been educated in this persuasion. Again,
writing from Kingston two years later, he estimated that only one-
tenth of the people of the Province were Anglicans. The Rev. John
Langhorn, also, who was missionary at Ernestown and parts adjacent,
from 1787 to 1813, declared that four-fifths of the settlers on the Bay of
Quinte, then one of the most thickly peopled parts of the Province,
were of persuasions different from the Church of England. Many of
the Loyalists were of Dutch descent, and these were mostly Presby-
terians. No inconsiderable contingent were Quakers from Pennsyl-
vania, while those of British origin were in many cases Methodists and
(in the Eastern Lake Erie District) Baptists. Nowhere, however,
were the adherents of the Church of England so numerous as at the
military station, first known as Fort Frontenac. Here, in 1792, the
first missionary reported thirty communicants, while .at Toronto, over
a decade later, there were but ten. In truth, of the one hundred families
credited to the Church of England in Upper Canada by Mr. Cart-
wright, no less than thirty were to be found at Kingston. So, at least,
it appears from a letter written by the infant congregation to the S. P.
G. in 1791. Some of these were Loyalist refugees. Some were soldiers
of Sir John Johnson's battalion of the Royal Regiment of New York,
which had come from Oswego to Kingston during the summer of 1783,
and a, year later had been disbanded there; and, as the Fort seems to
have been well garrisoned, the officers and soldiers, together with the
permanent inhabitants, of what in 1784 was laid out as the Town Plot
of Kingston, sufficed to form a considerable congregation.
During the summer of the year I have just mentioned (1784),
there came to this promising settlement Dr. John Stuart, nomen clarum
et venerabile, a man whom all Canadian Anglicans regard with reverent
affection. May I briefly sketch the story of his life. He was born in
1740, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where it is said the family mansion
was still standing in 1836. His father, Andrew Stuart, was a worthy
and attached Presbyterian, of good North of Ireland stock, and sent his
son for education to Philadelphia. Here his religious convictions
underwent so serious a change that he determined to seek for ordination
in the Church of England. Not, however, till the lapse of several years
had convinced his father of the sincerity of his motives, and the tender-
ness of his filial consideration. To receive the laying on of the hands
of a Bishop involved, in those days, a journey across the Atlantic, but
92
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
this he undertook, and in 1770 he was admitted to Holy Orders by
Dr. Terrick, Bishop of London. Immediately thereafter, he returned
to America and was appointed to ^ort Hunter, an Indian mission,
where fortifications and a chapel had been erected by Queen Anne in
1712. He preached his first sermon at Canajoharie, on Christmas Day.
Fort Hunter was situated on the southern bank of the Mohawk Kiver,
at the point where the Schoharie enters it, or, if you choose, it was 38
miles northwest of Albany, or 4 miles east of Fonda, a modern station
of the New York Central R.R. The stone church, which, indeed, re-
sembled a fort more than a place of worship, is thus described in a con-
tract for the building of the Fort: "Also a Chaple, in the midle of
the Ffort of 24 foot square, one storye ten foot high, with a garet over
it, well covered with Boards, and shingled, and well flowrd. A Seller
of 15 foot square under it, covered with Loggs, and then with Earth,
The whole Chaple to be well floured." After long disuse as a place of
worship, this historic building was demolished in 1820, to make way
for the Erie Canal, which passed through its centre. The parsonage,
however, remains, and, having been modernized, is still occupied. At
Fort Hunter Dr. Stuart remained for eight years, faithfully and suc-
cessfully ministering to his Indian congregation, as well as to the Eng-
lish and Dutch residents, and holding a fortnightly service at what is
still known as Johnstown. With the aid of Brant, the well-known
Indian Chief, he also translated a considerable part of the New Testa-
ment and of the Book of Common Prayer into the language of the
Mohawks. But in the meantime the War of Independence began, and
Dr. Stuart was as unflinchingly attached to the Royal Standards as his
brothers, Andrew and Charles, were to the cause of the Revolution.
He was therefore obliged to abandon his post, but not until the greater
part of his Indian converts had joined the Royal forces. We are not
specially concerned to enlarge upon the treatment which he afterwards
received from the Revolutionists and which is incident upon times of
war. Suffice it to say, that after having been obliged to suspend his
ministerial functions for over two years he was at last permitted to
remove to Canada, and reached St. John's, in the Province of Quebec,
on October 9th, 1781. A few weeks later we find him at Montreal,
where he opened a Public School, with a considerable attendance, and
acted as Deputy Chaplain to the 60th Regiment. He had also fre-
quent opportunities to visit the Indians at Lachine and elsewhere, for
many of his converts, like himself, had found their way into Canada.
Montreal, however, he felt was not his appropriate centre, and in Feb-
ruary, 1784, he requested the appointment of Chaplain to the garrison
EARLY HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN KINGSTON. 93
of Kingston. Having received a favorable reply from the authorities,
as well as discretionary power from the S. P. G. to settle in any part
of Canada, he resolved to remove to what was then the most important
point in the Upper Province. But first he undertook a visitation of
the great district which he was to oversee. Setting out from Montreal
on June 2nd, he reached Niagara on the 18th, having visited all the
new settlements of Loyalists on the way, and baptized all the children
presented to him for that purpose. " On my return " (I now quote his
own words) " having determined to visit every settlement of Loyalists,
I came by way of Cataraqui, remained there some days, baptized sev-
eral children and buried one." He was, however, unable to take up
his permanent residence in Kingston till the summer of the following
year, but in August, 1785, when he was in his forty-sixth year, he
settled down to what was the chief work of his life. Kingston was then
a town of about fifty houses, some of which he describes as very ele-
gant, and immediately on his arrival there he established religious ser-
vices in a large room in the garrison, in proximity to the present Tete
du Pont Barracks, and soon after an academy for general education,
the earliest in Ontario. The people he describss as a class " not the
most favorable to morality and industry." Again, he speaks of the
need of teaching them the first principles of religion and morality before
persuading them to become actual members of the Church. He was,
however, supported by a little band of loyal and earnest men, and in
1792, his communicants, as we have seen, numbered thirty-four. His
stipend amounted (to £150 (sterling), two-thirds of which was derived
from the Crown and one-third from the S. P. G.
The first Vestry of which we have record was held upon Easter
Monday, April 25th, 1791, at which there were present Dr. John Stuart,
Kichard Cartwright, Sr., Richard Cartwright, Jr., Capt. James Rich-
ardson, Joseph Anderson, and Christopher Georgen. Georgen and
Richardson were appointed Wardens, and Archibald Thompson and
Capt. William Atkinson, Vestrymen. The duties of the Clerk and
Sexton were also defined. The latter was to " make fires and sweep
the Church regularly, for which he was to be paid one shilling per week
during the season when it was necessary to have fires, and sixpence per
week when no fire was necessary. He was also to furnish water for the
christenings." The little congregation, the majority of whom are
described as depending upon manual labor for their subsistence, con-
sidered themselves taxed to the utmost in providing benches for the
room in the barrack, raising the salary of the Clerk ($18), enclosing
the burial ground ($27.60), providing .a surplice ($9.15), as well as
94 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
a cloth and napkin for the decent administration of the Sacrament
($4.15). Nevertheless, the S. P. G. thought to lay upon them the duty
of contributing to the salary of their clergyman as well, and in July,
1790, addressed a remonstrance to them to that effect. They therefore
felt it necessary to bestir themselves, and probably conceived that by
taking steps to erect a church they would satisfy the Society of their
activity. A subscription list was set in motion, and the fifty-four
names which appeared upon it gave promises to the extent of about
$450, in sums varying from one dollar to forty. Richard Cartwright,
Neil Maclean, Kobert Macaulay, Joseph Herohmer, Michael Grass,
Joseph Forsythe, Thomas Markland, Peter Smith, and David Brass,
were among those who undertook the erection of this, the second church
in Upper Canada. The building decided upon was a weather-boarded
structure forty feet long, thirty wide, and twelve high. The burial
ground, to which reference has just been made, and in the centre of
which St. PauPs Church was built more than half a century later, had
been placed by the Crown in the custody of the Clergyman and Wardens
as early as 1784, although the patent was not issued until July 16th,
1827. That valuable block known -as " G," and now bounded by King,
Brock, Wellington and Clarence Streets, was probably given at the
same time, as the site of a church, although in this case also the patent
was delayed till January 19th, 1824, when the purposes of the grant
were specified. Here, therefore, with <a feeling of perfect security as
to title, and upon a site a little to the rear of the lot upon which the
office of the British Whig now stands, building operations were begun
in February, 1792, the contractor being Archibald Thompson. Dur-
ing the summer of this year, an epoch-making event took place at
Kingston. The Province of Upper Canada had been formed in 1791,
but Sir John Graves Simcoe, its first Governor, was not proclaimed
until July 8th of the following year, and the proclamation is said to
have been made in the Protestant church at Kingston, and upon a
Sunday. I find some difficulty in reconciling this statement with the
fact that the church at the date mentioned must have been very incom-
plete, and possibly the term " church " may be used to designate the
building used as a church, viz., the room in the Barracks already men-
tioned. In October, however, says Dr. Stuart, the building was
glazed and plastered, ,and the interior furnishings were probably ex-
temporized by the use of the benches already supplied for the Bar-
racks. But on the 1st of April, 1793, we read of a Vestry meeting
held in " the Church," when Captain Robert Macaulay and Peter
Smith were appointed its first Wardens, and Lieutenant James Robbing
EARLY HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN KINGSTON. 95
and James Russell, Vestrymen. Early in the following year a proper
pulpit, desk, Communion table, pews, cupola, and bell were added,
and the material equipment was completed. The source whence the
bell was procured, I am unable to discover, but venture to suggest that
it may have been presented by the Commandant or some officer of the
Garrison. It was cast in Bristol, England, by one John Baker, in
1690, and weighed no more than 60 Ibs. Afterwards discarded by
the congregation of St. George's for a worthier instrument, it was
presented by the Archdeacon to the Rev. Job Deacon, of Adolphus-
town, and to-day it hangs in the tower of the pretty Memorial Church,
lately erected there. Unfortunately, however, it is no more than a
relic, for it is cracked and cannot be used. The completed structure
cost about $800, and the entire expense was borne by the congregation.
On the 17th March, 1794, thirty-one pews were sold at prices varying
from $25.00 to $6.50, being, at the same time, subject to a rental of
$4.00 per anixum. In the following August the congregation received
its first Episcopal visitation. Dr. Jacob Mountain had, in 1793, been
consecrated Bishop of the great district extending from Gaspe to
Lake Huron. Facing westward in the following year, he reached
Kingston at the date mentioned, and from him fifty-five persons
received Confirmation there.
Even in these early days, when one might suppose that the little
flock would feel themselves but one united family, affairs did not
always move without the occasional intrusion of that element which,
in this age of disguising phraseology, we term " friction." At the
Easter Vestry, April 6th, 1795, it was unanimously resolved that the
ground rent should cease, and that the expenses of the church should
be raised by assessment. But, on the following Monday, another
Vestry was held, for the purpose of upsetting the action of the former
one. Oaths were administered, and then they tried it again. Captain
Richardson, as was to be expected from a member of the Garrison,
stood to his colors, and voted " no," but the other three voted " yes,"
and so the pew rent was restored for the ensuing year. Two years
after the completion of the structure, it was found necessary to erect
a gallery, the builders being Messrs. Wycott and Ellerbeck. A further
enlargement was effected in 1802, which consisted of a lengthening of
the building to the extent of 25 feet, and the erection of the second
gallery, the cost of which enlargement was nearly $800. From that
time onward the building seems to have continued unchanged, until
it was supplanted by the finer structure of 1827. Here then we may
appropriately pause and endeavor to transport ourselves back to one
96
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
of the first years of the century. Let us suppose it to be Easter Day,
April 18th, 1802. King Street, or, more strictly, Church Street,
that part of it was then called, is mud almost to the ankles, and there
are as yet no sidewalks, but it is Easter and we must go to church. The
little bell, which quite suffices for a town of 500 or 600 soul®, has
ceased ringing, and we may enter from the side, or the end, as we
wiU. We are attracted by the stately, well-proportioned figure of Dr.
Stuart, for he is full six feet four inches in height (the " little gen-
tleman," as his friends used to call him), and his reverent, sympathetic
voice is reading the opening address to worshippers. Just a little
below him is Mr. John Cannon who, for the annual sum of $44.00 and
fees, discharges the duties of clerk, sexton and bell-ringer. Of con-
gregational responding, I am afraid there is none. Mr. John Cannon,
who, by the way, is quite a consequential individual, is paid
respond. Why should the congregation interfere with his preroga-
tive ? And so, after each collect, we hear the sharp " A-a-men " of
the clerk. The only musical instrument is a barrel organ of limited
scope, and the congregation do not, and cannot, complain that too many
of the tunes are new. The Psalms usually sung are those of Tate
and Brady, but the closing pages of the Prayer Book contain a few
hymns for the chief festivals, and one of these, we may conjecture,
is sung upon Easter. If during the service we could, without impro-
priety, stand at the entrance to the chancel, and look down the nave,
we should probably see a congregation of between 100 and 200 per-
sons, for, although Sunday is not very well observed in Kingston, and
the noise of axes and hammers may be heard all day long, this one
church does duty for all the inhabitants. Immediately in front of
us, then, are Mr. Eichard Cartwright and Mr. Christopher Hagar-
man. Beside Mr. Cartwright is the diminutive figure of a young man
of 24, but already his features give indications of that strength of will
which gave him such marvellous determining power in the life of
Canada, when in after years he became Bishop of Toronto. Across
the aisle from Mr. Cartwright is the military figure of Captain Eich-
ardson. On one side of the pulpit is the " Government pew," in
which may probably be seen Commandant Spencer — at least, if he was
as faithfully devoted to the duties of worship as his grandson, the
late Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Ontario. On the other side
of the pulpit, which seems to have been against the wall, and midway
down the church, is the clergyman's pew. Across another narrow
aisle we can discern the strong Flemish features of Lawrence
Herchmer. Just behind him sits Mrs. Macaulay, still clad in the
EARLY HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN KINGSTON. 97
garb of widowhood, for Captain Robert Macaulay had died in the fall
of 1800. To the left is Michael Grass, well known to history, whose
blood courses in the veins of Kingston's energetic representative in
the Legislative Council of Ontario. Captain Murney is there, whose
name still lives in the tower at the foot of Barrie Street, and Jermyn
Patrick, and many others, whose descendants are worshipping in St.
George's to-day. Mr. John Corby and Lieutenant Bobbins are the
Wardens, and as the Holy Communion is to be celebrated, offerings
are taken up (probably in long-handled boxes, or bags), to be devoted
to the relief of the poor. The sermon is somewhat longer than that to
which modern ears are accustomed, but it is imbued with the spirit
of one who seldom clothed religion in its terrors, and whose word ever
made for righteousness of living. The " Holy Table " is decently
habited and the bending figure of the Rector administers the conse-
crated elements to thirty or forty communicants.
From this date onward there is little specially eventful to record,
save the gradual upbuilding of the Church. Bishop Mountain's pur-
pose was to pay triennial visits to every congregation in his vast Dio-
cese, and Confirmations were administered by him in Kingston in
1800, 1803, 1809, and onwards. Dr. Stuart died on the 15th day of
August, 1811, at the age of 71. In these early days it was not unusual
to subject the missionaries sent from England to unfavorable criti-
cism, and to describe them as totally unfit for the situations in which
they were placed. Concerning Dr. Stuart, however, no word of censure
was ever breathed. Affectionate testimony was borne to his usefulness
and activity, as well as that high moral character and these educa-
tional abilities, which, it was said, would make him an ornament to any
society. All that the grave can claim of this honored servant of the
Lord lies in the burying ground surrrounding St. Paul's Church, and
it is sheltered from the world's intrusion by a high and massive stone
wall. A tablet to his memory was placed on the wall of the United
Empire Loyalist Memorial Church, Adolphustown. A Vestry meeting
was held a fortnight later, when it was ordered that the announcement
of his death should be made to the Lieutenant-Governor and to the
Bishop, and the hope was expressed that Rev. George O'Kill Stuart,
then missionary at Toronto, might become his father's successor at
Kingston. Here let me introduce all that I have to say concerning the
first Dean of Ontario. He was born at Fort Hunter, June 29th, 1776,
and educated iat Schenectady, Windsor, N.S., and Harvard. In June,
1800, he was ordained by the Bishop of Quebec, and sent in the fol-
lowing year to Toronto, as a missionary of the S. P. G. Here he
7
98 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
remained eleven years, during which time the church, afterwards rifled
by the Americans in the War of 1812, was built. He entered upon
his duties in Kingston in the summer of that year ; was made the
Bishop of Quebec's " official " in Upper Canada, and later, Archdeacon
of York. Upon the subdivision of that ecclesiastical district in 1827
he was appointed to the Archdeaconry of Kingston, a position he held
until the establishment of the See of Ontario, of which he became the
first Dean. He died in October, 1862, having attained the patriarchal
age of 86, and his mortal remains were laid to rest beneath the
shadow of St. Paul's Church. After him have been named five streets
lying near the Archaic residence, which he erected for himself, and
which in 1854 became the property of Queen's University. We retain
deligtful memories of it as the place where we trudged wearily over
the pons asinorum, and where the humanity professor, after one of
our crude translations, asked us, with a smile of the utmost tenderness
and benignity, whether we thought that Horace and Plato wrote non-
sense. To-day this same building suffices to shelter the households of
three of the professors of the University.
The War of 1812 followed hard upon the Stuarts' arrival in
Kingston, but operations were carried on, as we know, miainly east and
west of the Limestone City, which, for the time, benefited rather than
suffered 'during these trying years. The dockyard, which had been
established in 1789, was now the scene of a busy industry, between
1,000 and 2,000 men being steadily employed, and $100,000 of Gov-
ernment money expended annually. Under the impetus thus received,
Kingston continued to grow and was still the premier town of the Pro-
vince. Anglicans, too, began to realize the value of their Government
land grant, and in 1818 the system of leasing their land, with building
privileges, began. The section facing upon Brock Street was divided
into five blocks, of which the annual rental was $297.
The Princess Charlotte died on the 6th November, 1817. No
event caused a sharper pang throughout the British Empire. The
sad news could not in those day have reached Canada in less than six
weeks, but the loyal members of St. George's immediately thereafter,
put their church into mourning. The cost of the funeral drapery was
$88, but the material was afterwards sold by auction, and the church
recouped to the extent of $57.
In the beginning of August, 1820, Bishop Mountain paid his last
visit to Kingston, and administered Confirmation on the third day of
the month. His son, Rev. G. J. Mountain, afterwards Bishop of
Quebec, who accompanied him, describes the church as "long, low,
-L
i
EARLY HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN KINGSTON. 99
blue wooden building, with, square windows, and a little cupola, or
steeple for the bell, like the thing on a brewery, placed at the wrong
end of the building. They are taking steps, however," he adds, " to
build a new one."
In addition to the block known as " G," to which allusion has been
made, a grant of the block of land upon which St. George's Cathedral
now stands had been made subsequently, and after plans and eleva-
tions had been sought from various sources, the work of constructing
the new building upon this site began in earnest in 1825. On April
9th a building committee was appointed, consisting of Hon. G. ,H.
Markland, Thomas Markland, C. A. Hagarman, Hon. John Macaulay
and John Kirby. Mr. Thomas Rogers, whose plans had been accepted,
was appointed architect, and the contractors for the masonry were
Matthews and Lauder; for the carpentry, John Corrie; and for the
plastering, Thomas Brickwood. The corner-stone was laid by Sir
Peregrine Maitland, with impressive ceremonies, on June 25th. We
learn from the Kingston Chronicle that the procession left Walker's
Hotel, which stood facing the Market Square, at 11 a.m. It consisted
f the band of the 37th Hampshire Regiment, playing appropriate
music; then the architect, the builders, the sexton, the clerk, the
church wardens (Messrs. Henry Smith and Thomas Askew), the
tor, the Building Committee, the staff of the garrison, visiting clergy,
barristers, physicians, the sheriff, the magistrates, members of Par-
liament, military and naval officers, and gentlemen. Two members of
the Building Committee then met his Excellency at the Government
wharf and conducted him to the platform, when prayers were offered
by the Archdeacon, and the stone was duly laid. The cavity contained
the usual newspapers, coins, etc., and a scroll which bore these words:
" By the favor of Almighty God, on the 12th day of June, in the year
f our Lord, 1825, and the sixth year of the reign of our most gracious
sovereign, George IV., by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., etc.,
etc., the corner-stone of this Protestant Episcopal Church of St.
George, dedicated to Divine Worship, according to the doctrines, rites
and ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland, in the
Town of Kingston, was laid by his Excellency, Sir Peregrine Maitland,
Knight, Commander of the most Honorable Military Order of the
Bath, Knight of the Russian Order of St. George, and of the Order
of William in the Netherlands, etc., etc., etc., Lieutenant-Governor of
the Province of Upper Canada, the Venerable George O'Kill Stuart
being Rector." On October 10th of the following year, the contractor
100 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
for the carpentry having failed to fulfil his agreement, the Committee
themselves undertook the work, under the superintendence of Mr.
Eogers, and the finishing touch was not given until the close of the
summer of 1827, when a steeple, a bell-chamber and a substantial plat-
form were added to the original contracts. As most of those now liv-
ing have been familiar with the stately portico, erected in the fift
decade of the century, we should probably have regarded the completed
structure of 1827 very bald, for the pillars and the dome which now
surmounts the steeple were then wanting, but the church was probably
little less worthy than any then standing in Canada. The " elegant
and commodious " structure, as an epitomizer of the day describes it,
was opened for service upon Sunday, November 25th. " Prayers were
read by Kev. William Macaulay, then Hector of Picton. Eev. R. W.
Tunny, Chaplain to the forces (who died in the first year of the
cholera, aged 55), officiated at the communion table, and Dr. Stuart,
the Rector, preached an appropriate sermon from 1st Samuel, 12. 24."
The cost of the structure seems to have been about $25,000. Of this
amount the congregation subscribed $5,600. The Lieutenant-Governor
obtained, as a grant from the military chest, the large sum of $7,500.
From the Bishop of Quebec came $400, and the balance was raised by
a loan. I find the following interesting entries in the accounts of that
date, and they help to explain the manner in which the congregation
was accommodated while suffering the vexatious delays to which allu-
sion has been made: "Jan. 6th, 1826; paid Stephen Wood for
work done at the Wesleyan Chapel, £0, 5, 2." " March 27th, 1826;
from Henry Smith for rent of pew 12, Wesleyan Chapel, one year to
Easter, £1." It appears, therefore, that to the courtesy of the Wes-
ley ans, the Anglican congregation were indebted for housing, while
their church was in building, and from another source (the late Sheriff
Fergusson) I have learned that they were permitted to hold one ser-
vice each Sunday during the interval in which they received this grate-
ful accommodation.
In the summer of 1826 the congregation saw the face of Dr.
Charles James Stuart, then Bishop of Quebec. Six years had elapsed
since the final visitation of Bishop Mountain, and we are not surprised
to learn that 115 candidates for confirmation were presented by the
Archdeacon. From this time forward, too, the exigencies of parochial
work seem to have overtaxed the powers of the Rector, and he associated
with him a succession of curates, the earliest of whom was the Rev.
Thos. Handcock, who served from 1825 to 1830. The Rev. R. D. Cart-
wright, universally beloved, dying in his prime, aged 37, and bequeath-
EARLY HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN KINGSTON. 101
ing to Canada distinguished sons, succeeded him in 1831, and during
the sad summers of 1832 and 1834 both the Rector and his assistant
must have been sorely tried and overworked. The burial register of a
few weeks, which contains a list of interments from cholera number-
ing 171 persons, young men and maidens, old men and children, gives
some slight indication of the amount of faithful and exhausting duty
performed by men who knew what it was to stand between the plough
and the altar. Mr. Cartwright resigned, on account of ill-health, in
April, 1843, and was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Macaulay Herchmer,
Reproduced by the kindness of the " News," Kingston.
who was associated with the Archdeacon at the date which limits this
paper.
Just a word may be added as to the fate of the old building which
did reverent service for over thirty years. It was advertised for sale,
perhaps in the early months of 1826, for we read that in March of
that year Mr. Macfarlane and Mr. Thompson received £0, 4, 7 each
for advertising the sale. It is also added that the removal of the
church was considered desirable, for the accommodation of those who
had erected buildings on Brock Street. Unfortunately, the Vestry
records from 1827 to 1835 have been lost. But tradition sayeth that
old St. George's was removed to the corner of Wellington and Clar-
102
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ence Streets, used for a time as the Lancasterian schoolhouse, and
afterwards sold to Adam Main and removed to the corner of Union
and Wellington Streets, where it still stands. This is possible, as
balloon frames were unknown in these early days. Nevertheless, we
have 'been unable to verify the tradition. Enough, that in the humble
structure was nurtured the faith and life of men who helped,^to lay
broad and deep the foundations of our Canadian polity, who gave not
to Kingston only, but to Canada, many worthy sons, and whose
example, laymen and clergymen of the present generation may rever-
ently emulate.
VIII.
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON.
BY Miss AGNES MATJLE MACHAR (" FIDELIS ").
I.— THE FOUNDING OF FORT FRONTENAC.
For the first and most romantic epoch we have to go back, in
imagination, just two hundred and thirty-four years, to the July days
of 16Y3. The " Glorious Twelfth " deserves special commemoration
by all classes of Kingstonians, for it was on that day that Frontenac
landed his expedition on the lonely shore of Cataracqui — or Katara-
koui — till then the undisturbed home of the wild denizens of the
forest. On that morning the observant crow, hovering over the blue
St. Lawrence, a few miles below Kingston, or the contemplative crane,
fishing solitary on some tufted rock, beheld a long and strange flotilla
making its way out of the mazes of the Thousand Isles, unlike any-
thing that had before been seen floating amid these sylvan solitudes.
Canoes manned by French soldiers and gaily painted bateaux led the
way ; then came large " war canoes,'7 filled with imposing figures in
glittering French uniforms, amid whom might easily have been dis-
tinguished the stately figure and dark clear-cut face of the " Great
Ononthio," Count Frontenac himself. On either side came another
squadron of canoes, French and Indian, while two others, following as
a rearguard, closed the martial procession. The Governor, we are
expressly told in the Journal of lie Expedition, written by the Abbe
D'Urfe, had carefully arranged this order of approach with a view,
undoubtedly, to the impression he hoped to make on the savage mind.
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 103
But why had the dignified French Viceroy undertaken, with
such a retinue, an expensive and tedious voyage from the rock of
Quebec to the junction of the St Lawrence with the little River Catar-
aqui, at the entrance to Lake Ontario, a hitherto unknown point in
the midst of unbroken wilderness? And why was he so desirous of
impressing a gathering of roaming Indians with the power and pres-
tige of his country ? For the answer we need only cast our thoughts
back to the circumstances under which the gallant " Pioneers of France
in the New World " had been, for more than a century, struggling
with the adverse forces of Nature and human savagery, in order to
establish the colony of New France on a stable foundation. *
As we all know, the supremacy on the continent of North
America was then actively contested by the three great powers which
had shared the honors of its discovery. Spain had early pre-empted
a vast southern region under the general name of " Florida " ; the Fleur-
de-lis floated over an extensive northern area; while Great Britain,
with adventurous Dutchmen by her side, had established a line of
settlements along the eastern seaboard. Competition was kee^for the
" sinews of war," i.e., the beaver trade, then the mainstay of any
colony in this part of North America.
The fierce Iroquois, or Five Nations, who had so long been the
scourge and terror of New France, were then the chief purveyors of
the fur trade, which the English and Dutch settlers naturally sought
to draw to the southward of lake and river. The shrewd Intendent
Talon had, in 1670, suggested to Louis XIV. the expediency of plant-
ing two outposts, one on the north and one on the south shore of Lake
Ontario, which might serve at once as a check on the Iroquois raids
and as depots for fur trading, and also the building of a small vessel
to cruise between them and intercept the Indians on their way to the
rival settlements. In the following year the then Governor, De Cour-
celles, made a canoe voyage up the St. Lawrence and, as the memoir
of the expedition informs us, arrived at the mouth of Lake Ontario,
which appeared " as an open sea without bounds." Apparently he
reached the vicinity of Kingston, if we may judge from the following
observation in the memoir : " The Governor remarked at this place a
stream bordered by fine land, where there is sufficient water to float a
large bark. This remark will be of use hereafter/7 adds the writer, a
remark that was justified by the result.
If we may venture, in a historical paper, on what seems at least
a probable hypothesis, we might plausibly connect this first visit to the
site of the future Fort Frontenac with the remarkable personality
who was to be for many years to come its commander and animating
104 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
spirit, as well as the Seignior of the surrounding country. Robert
Cavelier de La Salle is the figure that most strongly impresses our
imagination when we study the early history of Cataraqui or that of
the discovery of the Great West. This young Norman, who had
arrived in New France animated by the passion for discovery and the
enthusiasm of the explorer, had become possessed with the desire to find
the long-dreamed-of waterway through the continent to the treasures
of the Orient. He had, furthermore, been led by the accounts he had
received from wandering Indians of the course of the Mississippi,
and the rich regions through which it flowed, to concentrate his aims
and ambitions on seeking to trace its course, colonize its banks, and
'add a territory of fabulous riches to the realms of France. He had
been a companion of the friars, Galinee and Dollier de Casson, on the
exploring tour of the lakes, from which De Courcelles had derived the
information that led to his own voyage, and it is quite possible that
the suggestion of a fortified fur depot at the eastern end of Lake
Ontario had originated with him. It was certainly a much more fav-
orable base for his projected voyage of discovery than his first Seign-
iory of Lachine, so called, we are told, in derision of its master's dream
of discovering a short cut to China.
When the energetic Frontenac succeeded De Courcelles in the gov-
ernment of Canada, he had been attracted by the enterprise and
enthusiasm of the young Norman, whose nature was in many ways
ak£n to his own, and had lent a favoring ear to the far-reaching pro-
jects which had already taken definite shape in the mind of Cavelier.
He was, indeed, quite ready to consider any proposals likely to extend
the power of France in the New World, and to fulfil, as soon as pos-
sible, the recommendation of his successor concerning the new outpost.
'Knowing that La Salle had already explored much of the region about
the Great Lakes, he sent him on in advance, to make a final reconnais-
sance of the site for the new depot, as well as to conciliate the sur-
rounding Iroquois, and thus prepare the way for its establishment.
Meantime, he began to muster men and canoes for his intended expe-
dition, and as he could not command adequate funds, and would not
run the risk of awaiting the result of an application to the king, which
might quite possibly have proved unfavorable, he had recourse to the
Seigniors settled on both sides of the St. Lawrence, whom he invited
to form part of his retinue, supplying, of course, a contingent of men
and canoes. At Montreal hs made a halt long enough to provide him
with four gaily painted bateaux and other necessary supplies, which
were portaged to La Salle's old settlement of Lachine, from whence
he set out at the head of a train of one hundred and twenty canoes,
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 105
carrying a martial force of four hundred men, a friendly contingent of
Indians, and the bateaux, laden with supplies of food and requisites
for the building of the proposed fort.
The season was the loveliest of the Canadian year, when the sum-
mer is at its prime, the forest gay with fresh verdure, the coverts
vocal with the joyous songs of birds and the air filled with delightful
floating fragrance. But the expedition was no holiday affair. Though
we may not stop to trace the long succession of toilsome portages, as
one snowy rapid after another impeded their progress, dashing its
silvery wave crests against the dark rocks that bristled with interlac-
ing hemlock and pine. When the mighty surges of the Long Sault
blocked their course the men were often obliged to wade waist deep in
the water, pushing the bateaux against the strong sweep of the current.
It was an arduous undertaking, but the energetic Governor knew how
to encourage and spur on his men to success, and did not disdain, at
times, to share in the toil, standing knee deep in the rushing stream.
Heavy rains came on, causing vexatious delays, and Frontenac, who
bivouacked with his men on the shore, passed sleepless nights, from
anxiety lest the water which found its way into the bateaux should
have wet and spoiled the biscuit which formed the staple of the food
of his men.
At length, however, the laborious ascent was completed and at the
head of the rapids Frontenac received a message from La Salle,
appointing the mouth of the Cataraqui as the place of the intended
conference. From thence the flotilla glided, under a cloudless July
sun, over calm waters and through the mazes of what seemed a fairy
archipelago, studded with rocky wooded islets, clustering thickly on a
sapphire lake, some rising like weather-beaten fortresses out of the
water, others luxuriant bowers of foliage, seeming to nestle in the
placid stream, mirrored in the still waters that lapped their shores.
After passing through a seemingly endless succession of these fairy
isles the expedition at length reached the end of the " Lac des lies des
Kochers," and at length came out in view of the blue expanse of the
apparently shoreless lake. The Abbe D'Urfe had been sent on in
advance, to notify the assembled Indians of the approach of the expe-
dition, now arranged by Frontenac in the order which has been
described. As they drew nearer to the wooded promontory, now
crowned by our fast-vanishing Fort Henry, a canoe was seen advanc-
ing, containing a number of the Iroquois Chiefs, accompanied by the
Abbe, to escort the expedition to the place of meeting, <a site which
impressed the voyagers with its advantageous position and its pictur-
esque surroundings of summer verdure and sapphire lake and stream.
106 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Around them stretched a spacious harbor, cut off from the broad breast
of Lake Ontario by a chain of large islands, as the lake narrows into
the river, and is joined by the narrower stream of the Cataraqui,
winding its way out from a succession of lakes, cascades and still
river-reaches, now connected by the Rideau Canal, and forming here,
by its wide embouchure, a quiet bay and well-sheltered port. The)
sylvan monotony of the scene was as yet unbroken by any artificial
feature, and the deep green woods that clothed the gently sloping shore
were still undisturbed, save by the temporary Indian encampment.
But the strange flotilla now approaching was the harbinger of inevit-
able change.
The meeting which now took place between the great Ononthio, as
the Governor was styled by the Iroquois, and the representatives of that
tribe and the " civilities " which then took place are thus quaintly
described in the memoir already quoted :
" They saluted the Admiral (Governor) and paid their respects
to him with evidence of much joy and confidence, testifying to him
the obligation they were under to him for sparing them the trouble of
going further, and for receiving their submissions at the River Katar-
akoui, as they were about signifying to him.
" After Count Frontenac had replied to their civilities, they pre-
ceded him as guides and conducted him into a bay about a cannon-shot
from the entrance, which forms one of the most beautiful and agree-
able harbors in the world, capable of holding a hundred of the largest
ships, with sufficient water at the mouth and in the harbor, with a mud
bottom, and so sheltered from every wind, that a cable is scarcely
necessary for mooring."
The disembarkation was soon effected, while the Indians, encamped
close at hand, looked on, with characteristic passivity, the more vener-
able Sachems approaching to do homage to the august " Ononthio,"
whose position and power La Salle had taken every opportunity to mag-
nify. Notwithstanding fatigue, Frontenac spent the afternoon and
evening in exploring the vicinity, not returning till dusk. The French
encampment was by that time completed, guards being, of course, set
with punctilious formality, while the Fleur-de-lis floated proudly above
the Governor's tent and martial music for the first time awoke the
slumbering echoes of the place.
On the following morning, the 13th of July, 1673, the reveille,
with the beating of drums, aroused the French camp to the important
work of the day, for Iroquois Councils were early "functions." A
double line of soldiers under arms formed a living lane from the Gov-
ernor's tent to the Iroquois Camp, to impress the deputies who
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 107
marched, with slow gait and dignified mien, to the place of confer-
ence—an area, carpeted with sail-cloth, in front of Frontenac's tent,
where the orthodox camp-fire kept off insect intruders, and made a
centre for the meeting. Here the Indian envoys were duly presented
to the Governor and his suite, imposing, with their gold-laced uni-
forms and aristocratic bearing, Frontenac himself hardly needing any
accessories to enhance the native dignity of his commanding face and
figure.
After the first salutations there followed, according to Indian cus-
tom, a period of silence, while the Chiefs squatted on the canvas
carpet, smoking their pipes with imperturbable gravity. At length the
proceedings were opened by a speech from the Chief Garakontie, well
known as a tried friend of the French, expressing, with profuse com-
pliments, the pleasure and respect with which the great " Ononthio "
was welcomed among them. At the close of his harangue, Frontenac,
with the paternal air so well adapted to impress the Indian nature,
began his own address, as follows :
" Children ! Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas,
I am glad to meet yo<u here, where I have had a fire lighted for you to
smoke by, and for me to talk to you. You have done well, my chil-
dren, to obey the command of your Father. Take courage ! You will
hear his word, which is full of peace and tenderness, for do not think
that I have come for war. My mind is full of peace, and she walks by
my side. Courage, then, children, and take rest !"
Then followed a generous gift of tobacco, more promises to be -a
kind father to them, as obedient children, and another presentation,
this time of guns to the men, and of prunes and raisins to the women
and children. This closed what was but a preliminary conference. The
great Council was to meet on a future day.
It would be interesting to know the exact spot where this memor-
able meeting took place, but we may not be far wrong in supposing it
to have been what was afterwards, and perhaps then, called Mississauga
Point, near the foot of Earl Street. It certainly could not have been
very near the site of old Fort Frontenac, because, even while the con-
ference was proceeding, and the savages were entertained with speeches
and gifts, Frontenac, with characteristic promptness, had ordered his
engineer, M. Baudin, to trace out the ground plan of the projected
fort; and as the men of the expedition, under the directing officers,
were speedily set to cut down trees, hew palisades and dig trenches,
the work of construction was soon rapidly proceeding before the eyes
of the -astonished Indians. Frontenac, meantime, spared no trouble to
gain their favor, and seems to have amused his suite by caressing the
108 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
i
little brown dusky children, feasting them with bread and sweetmeats,
and ordering <an evening banquet for the squaws, that they might enter-
tain the strangers by their native dances, which they were nothing
loth to do. In these ways he managed somewhat to divert the atten-
tion of the savages from his military designs, and made himself most
popular among them. Four days of hard work passed before the Grand
Council was ait length summoned, with due state and ceremony, on the
19th of July, 1673. Then, after a repetition of the former ceremon-
ious preliminaries, the Ononthio, in his grand manner, again addressed
his " Indian children."
Expressing his satisfaction that they had obeyed their Father's
command in repairing to this rendezvous, to hear what he had to say,
he briefly exhorted them to become Christians, which he doubtless sin-
cerely desired, and not solely on account of the spiritual interests of
his hearers. Then, after calling their attention to the strength and
power of his armed escort, and the guns on the bateaux moored close
by, he continued his oration in the grandiloquent terms congenial both
to speaker and hearer:
" If your Father can come so far, with so great a force, through
such dangerous rapids, merely to make you a visit of pleasure and
friendship, what would he do, if you should awaken his anger, and
make it necessary for him to punish his disobedient children ? He is
the arbiter of peace and war. Beware how you offend him!" Fur-
thermore, he warned them strongly against molesting the Indian allies
of the French, any attempt at which would draw upon them swift
chastisement.
He then, with cautious diplomacy, proceeded to the matter in hand,
explaining, with many expressions of regard, that he was about to build
a storehouse or depot there, at which they would be able to barter their
furs for the things they required without being obliged to undertake a
long and dangerous journey. They must not, however, listen to the
misrepresentations of bad men who, for their own interests, would
delude and deceive them, but should give heed only to men of char-
acter, like the Sieur de La Salle, who would remain with them for the
present. He closed his harangue by asking that they should entrust
him with a number of their children to be educated at Quebec, so that,
in time, they and his French " nephews " might " grow into one
people."
Tha profusion of gifts which accompanied this oration, along with
its friendly tone of paternal consideration, secured for it a good recep-
tion, though the Indians expressed a natural desire to know what prices
would be given for the furs in goods at the new depot. They prom-
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 109
ised to consider, on their return to their villages, the proposal concern-
ing their children, and a few of these were eventually sent to Quebec
to be educated — the girls in the Ursuline Convent, the boys in the
household of the Governor himself.
After three days more of feasting and friendly intercourse, the
Iroquois broke up their camp, and the great majority of them re-em-
barked in their canoes, and disappeared beyond the point of land which
projected into the St. Lawrence, on their way to their villages to the
southward. By the time that the primitive palisades of the fort were
set up, and the barracks of rough logs were well advanced towards com-
pletion, another band of Iroquois, from the north of the Great Lakes,
arrived to hold a similar pow-wow with the Ononthio. He had already
despatched a large part of his men in detachments, and when the
second division of Indians had departed, propitiated by presents and
belles paroles, and Frontenac had established a garrison in the new
fort, and had arranged for their winter supplies, as well as for the
building of a small vessel, he, with the remainder of his retinue, set
out on his return to Montreal.
As he retraced his course down the St. Lawrence — much more
swiftly and easily than he had ascended — Frontenac felt that he had
every reason to congratulate himself on the success of his venture. He
had accomplished a dangerous voyage without the loss of a single
canoe, and, owing to the aid he had enlisted from his Seigniors, the
whole work had been accomplished at a cost of only ten thousand
francs, advanced by himself on behalf of the King. He had procured
from the Iroquois all the concessions he had asked, and wrote to
Colbert that he might boast of having impressed them at once with
respect, fear and good-will, and that, by means of the new post and
the vessel on the stocks, with another fort he contemplated building at
the mouth of the Niagara, the French would hold the command of the
Upper Lakes, always an important point for the would-be masters of
Canada. And however opinions in the colony might differ as to the
commercial usefulness of the new outpost, however much the Montreal
merchants might look askance at it from their own point of viewA
there could be no doubt that in it New France would possess an effec-
tual barrier against incursions by the Iroquois for years to come. As
our present subject is the founding of Fort Frontenac, we must not
linger over its varied and interesting history. As we all know, La
Salle went to France in the following year, and obtained from the King
the command of the fort and the Seigniory of the adjacent country.
In accordance with the conditions of his grant, he rebuilt the palisaded
log fort in stone, repaid the ten or eleven thousand francs of Fron-
HO ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
tenac's outlay, cleared land for fanning, built several small vessels,
maintained a garrison and chapel for French and Indians, a number
of whom settled near the fort, and spent there, we may well believe,
some of the happiest, and certainly the most peaceful, years of his
strenuous and tragic life. From it, again and again, he set out on the
toilsome expeditions to explore and colonize the " Great West," and
to it he repeatedly returned, with even his great strength, 'almost ex-
hausted, from the long and perilous journeys on foot, such as very few
white men have equalled on this continent. Towards it he was, for
the last time, bending his steps from the wilds of Texas, after the fatal
mistake which had landed him on M&tagorda Bay instead of the
embouchure of the Mississippi, when he was finally laid to rest by the
bullet of a treacherous follower. His name must ever be inscribed on
America's honor roll of heroes, for he was one, says Margry, quoting
Polybius in regard to Hannibal, whom " fate alone was able to
subdue."
For eighty-five years the new outpost of Fort Frontenac fulfilled
its destined purpose ias a bulwark of New France. The scenes it wit-
nessed were varied enough, at one time peaceful conferences like that
we have described, at another warlike demonstrations, when Peace did
not walk by the Ononthio's side. It witnessed the cruel and dastardly
treachery practised by Denonville on the Iroquois, when, having lured
some of the most peaceful of their bands within the precincts of the
fort on pretence of a conference, he put the men in chains, let many
of the women and children die of want, and sent most of his prisoners
to the French galleys, a piece of cruel perfidy that naturally awoke in
the Iroquois a thirst for vengeance, which ultimately found vent in
the massacre of Laohine. Denonville further displayed his cowardice
and folly in ordering the demolition of the fort, which Frontenac, on
his return to the rescue of New France, found in ruins, and which he
rebuilt within a few years, notwithstanding the determined opposition
of his Intendent, De Champigny. As this was the fort whose remains
were actually existing for some time after the British settlement, a
little detailed description of its character and site will not be out of
place.
In its restored condition, the fort had four curtains of stone, each
a hundred and twenty feet long, with four square bastions at the
angles, the north and south bastions standing almost on the present
line of Ontario Street, the eastern one on the present barrack square,
and the western one on what is now called the " Hay market." On the
west side were an embankment and ditch, the gate being on or about
the site of the present barrack wharf, the bastions being sunk on
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STOEY OF OLD KINGSTON. Ill
wooden piles, and the curtains loop-holed for musketry, the water side
being, as before, defended by palisades and barracks, a well, mill and
bakery occupying the interior.
Frontenac, septuagenarian as he was, soon made his strong hand
felt on the reins, saving the existence of New France for a time and,
in spite of repeated directions from home, firmly refusing to abandon
its bulwark of Fort Frontenac. Hither, again, in the month of July,
some twenty-five years after his first expedition, he brought the fight-
ing force of the colony on an errand of war, to subdue and intimidate
the again aggressive Iroquois, and rested here a few days before
invading their strongholds on the other side of the lake.
But Frontenac's life and rule, as well as the French hold on
Canada, were almost over. A few years later came the last hour of
Fort Frontenac, which had survived some of the other outposts. Louis-
bourg was already in ruins, and the English were well aware of the
importance of capturing the fort and garrison at Cataraqui. On an
August morning, in 1758, the small, inadequate garrison of little more
than a hundred men, exclusive of a few Indians, commanded by the
gallant and chivalrous veteran de Noyau, surrendered, with the
honors of war, to Colonel Bradstreet's -greatly superior force of 3,000
men, after a bombardment at short range, from no greater distance
than the market square. With the fort, the English force captured
sixty cannon and sixteen mortars, which were used in battering down
the walls they were meant to defend, nine armed vessels, and large
supplies of munitions of war. The fort was dismantled, all the build-
ings in and about it burned, along with most of the vessels, and,
except for a few French and Indian families who may have remained
in the vicinity, Cataraqui was left once more to silence and solitude.
When we next hear of the place, to which the name of Fort Frontenac
still clung, it is in the report of a British surveyor to a British
General ; #nd when the ruined walls were again used for military pur-
poses the Union Jack floated over them instead of the Fleur-de-lis.
II.— THE COMING OF THE LOYALISTS.
About a quarter of a century of silent summers had passed away
before the blue waters of the St. Lawrence once more bore a small
flotilla to Cataraqui in the early spring, carrying a party to inspect
the land about Fort Froiutemac, with a view, not to building a fort, but
a new and peaceful settlement. The passing years had brought changes
which could hardly have been contemplated in 1758. Britain reigned,
indeed, supreme over what had been New France; but the thirteen
112 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
colonies to the southward had renounced her sway, and were now
known as the United States of America. We must be content to accept
the verdict of impartial history that this unfortunate denouement was
due to " faults on both sides," and we need not now revive the memory
of " old, unhappy things, and battles long ago." Yet we can hardly
refer to the coming of the Loyalists without remarking that the revolu-
tionary party made no greater mistake, in days when the conflict of
feeling and opinion was sharp and bitter, than in the rigor with which
they treated those of their fellow-countrymen who maintained their old
allegiance to the British flag, and the animosity with which they drove
out some of their best citizens from a republic constituted in the
sacred name of freedom ! As loyal subjects of the British Empire, we
can never cease to honor the high-minded men and women who left
their pleasant homes and fertile farms, and in many oases, their all,
rather than sacrifice the principles in which they believed. Like
Abraham of old, they went out into the wilderness, scarcely knowing
whither, to become, like him, the founders of a nation ; and it is gen-
erally of such material that the best foundations of a nation are built.
Their long and weary journeyings over the snow-clad wilderness that
separated them from their promised land, or by the still longer and
more circuitous route of sea and river, recall the spirit and the faith
of the Israelites of old, and their faith was justified by its ultimate
reward. Amid all the noble traditions .to which Canada is heir, that
of the genuine United Empire Loyalists is one of the noblest, and
should be one of the most imperishable.
The flotilla that now appeared had no external pomp or circum-
stance, no martial music or brilliant uniforms gleaming in the sun-
shine. A few bateaux carried a number of weather-beaten men, in
weather-worn garments, weary with the toil of a long voyage. They
were the husbands and fathers— the pioneers of a band of refugees, led
by Captain Michael Grass— the founders of Kingston and its adjacent
townships. The circumstances under which they came are so inter-
esting, and so typical of many similar cases, that they may be glanced
at somewhat in detail. Captain Grass, who had owned a farm some
thirty miles from New York, had once been for a short time a British
prisoner of war with the French at Fort Frontenac. When he refused
to enter the American service, and took refuge with his family within
JNew York under British protection, the Commander (Sir Guy Carle-
ton, afterwards Lord Dorchester), much perplexed concerning the
future of the numerous Loyalists in the city, sent for Captain Grass
to obtain information as to the country about Cataraqui. Finding
that he gave a good report of it, the General asked whether he would
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 113
undertake to conduct to the place as many Loyalist emigrants as might
he willing to accompany him. After three days' consideration he
agreed to become the leader of such a band; whereupon, notices were
at once posted, inviting all who desired to go to enroll their names. A
company of women and children was soon enrolled, and in vessels pro-
vided by the Government they set out by sea. Their little fleet of
seven ships was nearly wrecked by the way, and they got no farther
than Sorel that season, being obliged to live there through the winter,
which, in such circumstances, must have been dreary enough.
And now the men of the party had come to behold their promised
land, and pitched their tents at Indian or Mississauga Point, already
referred to as the site of an old Indian burying-ground, and of Fron-
tenac's Conference. They surveyed the fair landscape about them, as
Frontenac had done more than ia century before; and Captain Grass
tells us " there was no building to be seen, save the bark-thatched wig-
wam of the savage or the newly-erected tent of the hardy Loyalist " ;
for the ruined walls of Fort Frontenac, and its still standing tower
would hardly count for much in the distance. Captain Grass, at least,
was satisfied, and in language whose spirit recalls that of the men of
the Mayflower, he tells us that he pointed out to his companions their
iture metropolis, " and gained for persecuted principles a sanctuary,
and for myself and my followers a home."
The wives and families soon followed the prospectors, and the
green slopes that rose so gently from the water, and the fair shores of
the Bay of Quinte were soon dotted with families engaged in selecting
their future homes, while the forest solitudes again echoed human
voices and human wit. The eager settlers had to remain for some
time, awaiting the surveying and numbering of the townships, which
were not allotted till July. Meantime other companies of refugees
iad arrived on a similar errand, and the Governor paid the place a
visit, and, after enjoying a ride along the lake shore on a fine day,
expressed his satisfaction with the " fine country " he saw around
him. When the time arrived for allocating the townships surveyed,
the Governor gave Captain Grass the first choice for himself and the
company he had led. He at once chose the first township, that of
Kingston. Sir John Johnston, who had the second choice, took the
second township, now Ernesttown; Colonel Kogers, the third, that of
Fredericksburgh ; and Major Vanalstine, the fourth — Adolphustown ;
while Colonel Macdonell, with his company, took the fifth, that of
Marysburgh.
The townships, being thus appropriated to the various bands of
immigrants, farms were soon laid out and work began in earnest.
8
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Trees were felled, seed (given by the Governor) was sowed, and primi-
tive homesteads begun. The settlers received from the Government,
besides seed, provisions to last three years, consisting chiefly of flour,
pork, beef, and a little butter and salt, distributed in a rather
promiscuous fashion, and also some necessary implements, including
an axe, hoe and spade, a plough and one cow for each two families, a
whip and cross-cut saw for each four families, while boats and port-
able mills were provided .at convenient points for common use. Some
of the implements were not of the most suitable kind, the axe in par-
ticular being too short and heavy for their needs. Clothing was also
supplied, intended to last until they should be able to provide it for
themselves, consisting chiefly of shoes, Indian blankets and coarse
cloth, so that the men were at least decently clad, though in a rather
primitive fashion. The women probably had to make their old clothes
look as well as new, a business that must have taxed their ingenuity,
though they doubtless had their share of the shoes and blanketing for
outer wraps.
The settler's first and heaviest piece of work was, of course, the
felling of trees and the building of the log cabin. In order to lighten,
as far as possible, the severe toil to which many of the new-comers
were unaccustomed, they frequently combined forces, each helping the
others, and being helped in his turn. The busy scene presented when
a band of stalwart pioneers were hard at work, felling the great trees,
trimming off the branches, squaring the trunks or piling up the refuse
logs for burning, or fitting together those which were to form the
settler's home, seems to have suggested the appellation of " bee,"
which has clung to such gatherings ever since. The settler's first cabin
was necessarily most primitive in style, being often built of the rough
round logs, rudely notched together at the corners, and piled some
seven or eight feet high, with openings cut out for a door and small
window. The openings between the logs were filled in with wooden
chips and clay for mortar. The roof was composed of slabs of elm
or other bark, in overlapping layers, laid on a support of poles. The
chimney was formed of round poles, plastered over with mud. The
floor was made of split logs, flattened enough to present a fairly even
surface, and the ample hearth was built of flat stones, while smaller
stones, packed together, composed its back and sides. A suspended
blanket frequently did duty for a door until sawn boards could be
fashioned for the purpose.
The log " shanty " built, it was soon furnished with home-made
necessaries. The bedsteads were built with the cabin itself, poles
being inserted securely between the logs of the walls, forming a shelf
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD .KINGSTON. 115
on which -a comfortable bed could be laid. Any carpenters among the
pioneers were turned to good account, and the benches, tables and
bureaus manufactured out of split basswood, were probably surveyed
with more pride than the connoisseur of to-day feels in his " Chippen-
dale " or " Louis Seize " acquisitions. Hard as was the toil, many as
were the privations they necessarily endured, the brave Loyalists were
happy enough in their " simple life," which braced their energies and
cheered their spirits as they began to reap the reward of their honest
labor.
Their faith and endurance, however, were tried by the " famine
year " of 1788, when the crops failed, and with all their added re-
sources in fish, game and wild fruit, much distress ensued, when a
cow was sometimes sold for a barrel of flour or a few bushels of pota-
toes, and whole farms were sacrificed for the necessaries of life. Nor
wias this the only trouble, for wild animals still roamed the forest in
large numbers, and, as the settlers were scantily supplied with fire-
arms, bears and wolves were a constant source of alarm. The latter
often howled dismally round the settlements on winter nights, not sel-
dom carrying off salted provisions, poultry and even cattle, while a
single mink would carry off in one night all the fowls of a farm, and
the fatted pig would sometimes fall a victim to the hug of a bear.
Tragic tales are still told of human lives sacrificed to the rapacity of
the wolves, and it was found necessary to pass an Act offering a
premium of four dollars for every wolf's head brought in, with two
dollars for those of bears. Some forty years later, when wolves were
growing scarce, we are told that a man who lived in Kingston bred
them privately in order to secure the reward.
The privations of the Loyalists can, of course, be paralleled in
many parts of our Dominion to-day, the difference, however, being that
the ordinary emigrant submits to them from motives of self-interest,
while the IT. E. Loyalist voluntarily sacrificed to his principles the
goods of which he was already possessed, with only the remote chance
of future compensation.
The U. E. Loyalists, however, were not the only settlers of Upper
Canada at that period. Many officers and soldiers who had fought for
the British flag also received liberal grants of land from the Govern-
ment, some of these being in the vicinity of Cataraqui. A number of
emigrants from the United States, who were not of the same sterling
stock as the original Loyalists, but came for speculative ends, also
received grants on too lavish a scale, so that Lord Durham stated in
his report that more than three millions of acres had been granted to
these refugees and their children, of which a very small proportion,
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
perhaps less than a tenth, had been occupied by settlers, much less re-
claimed and cultivated. This abuse, of course, arose from a lack of
discrimination; but in bestowing on the genuine Loyalists grants pro-
portioned to their losses, the British Government supplied to the
virgin Province a worthy body of patriotic settlers, who had proved
their loyalty by personal sacrifice; and the wisdom of this generous
policy has been amply justified by the tenacious adherence of their
descendants, ever since, through all varying fortunes and vicissitudes,
to ithe British Empire and the old flag.
III.— THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SEPARATE PROVINCE OF UPPER
CANADA BY GOVERNOR SIMCOE AT KINGSTON.
A decade has passed away before we again look in on the new
settlement on the banks of the Cataraqui, beside the ruins of Fort
Frontenac. The name of the spot has been changed to " Kingstown,"
that being the name bestowed by the enthusiastic Loyalists on both the
township and the village which has sprung into being. The latter has
now a population of between three and four hundred, dwelling in some
hundred houses built of logs or clap-boarded, scattered along the
nor shore of the Cataraqui, while behind these the ground slopes
gently upward in a sort of amphitheatre of cleared, but only partially
cultivated, land. La Rochefoucauld tells us that none of the houses
are distinguished by a more handsome appearance than the rest, the
only conspicuous structure being the barracks, a stone building sur-
rounded with palisades, erected on the ruins of Fort Frontenac. On
the southern bank a busy dockyard, filled with workmen engaged in
building the king's ships, occupies Point Frederick, named in compli-
ment to General Haldimand. There stand also the residence of the
Commodore and other officials, and a large stone building named the
Stone Frigate, built for training purposes, on the model of a man-of-war.
Close by the King's ships lie at anchor, in a harbor all their own.
The stimulus which had promoted the growth of the primitive
settlement, and brought so much life and animation into the scene, was
its early selection by the British authorities as a naval and military
centre. In 1788 Lord Dorchester, formerly Sir Guy Carleton, then
Governor of Canada, instructed Surveyor John Collins to make a
survey of forts and harbors, from Carleton Island to Michillimackinac,
and more particularly with regard to the question whether Carleton
Island or Kingston were the more eligible station for the King's ships
of war, in order to protect the navigation of Lake Ontario and the
upper part of the River St. Lawrence. The report was not favorable
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 117
to Kingston, the surveyor's preference leaning to Carleton Island, as
on the whole affording the best shelter, while he declared the ruins of
Fort Frontenac to be in a hopeless state of dilapidation, although the
barracks, partly dismantled, might still be repaired.
Despite Collins' adverse report, Lord Dorchester held to his own
views in favor of Kingston, and as Carleton Island was shortly after
found within the boundary line of the United States, there was no
further question as to where the naval depot should be. The dock-
yard and stores were begun in 1789, the year after the survey, while
barracks were erected on the ruins of the old fort. The " Stone
Frigate," too, was built, the dockyard was soon bustling with the
important work of shipbuilding, and the residences of the Commo-
dore and other officials imparted some dignity to the spot.
Upper Canada was now, for the first time, to be constituted as a
Province, ruled by its own governor, instead of being governed from
Quebec. General Simcoe was appointed Governor, and his inaugura-
tion naturally took place at Kingston, which, half a century later, was
to be the scene of the first Parliament of a reunited Canada, under
Lord Sydenham.
We -are told that this interesting ceremony took place in St.
George's Church, but it seems uncertain whether by this is to be under-
stood the small, unpretending building which had just been erected by
the generous contributions of its little congregation, and which had not
yet been completed, or in the room in the barracks which had been
hitherto used for religious services.
In whichever place the event took place, it is not difficult to call up
the scene, on or about the 15th of July, 1792. The otherwise bare and
unadorned apartment was sure to be draped with all the bunting at
command, while above it waved proudly the old flag that had already
braved so long the battle and the breeze, and was soon to see some of
its severest fighting and win its Waterloo. The assemblage was a
notable one, for some of the leading men of the young Province were
citizens of Kingston, and others must have assembled there from their
distant homes. There, as one of the most striking figures, stood the
stalwart form of the Curate of St. George's, first minister and first
teacher, the Kev. John Stuart, six feet four inches, and therefore play-
fully called by his friends " the little gentleman." There was the
energetic, somewhat arbitrary, martial-looking Governor, attired in the
elaborate official dress of the period, surrounded, of course, by his
military staff, as well as by Commodore Bouchette and his official
entourage. There was Major Peter Vanalstine and Messrs. Cart-
wright, Macaulay, Markland, Kirby, Deacon, the McLeans, Dr.
118
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Dougall, and others, well known in the early history of Kingston, who
doubtless appeared correctly attired in the small-clothes or tight knee-
breeches, with silver-buckled shoes, which had been brought by their
wearers from scenes of more fashionable life, and carefully reserved
for occasions of ceremony. In the background, we may be sure, were
GOVERNOR SIMCOE'S COUNCIL HOUSE, QUEEN STREET, 1792.
Reproduced by the kindness of the ' ' Newt," Kingston.
i '•
gathered all the other citizens who could crowd into the room. We
may, perhaps, believe that Mrs. Simcoe was there — a worthy helpmeet
to her husband, whom she was able to assist with her skilful pencil in
drawing plans, etc., and with that same pencil has left us interesting
sketches of Kingston in its then embryo condition. If she was
present, the wives and daughters of other citizens were probably in
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 119
itendance, dressed in the best finery they could produce from their
stores and remodel for the occasion, for it is not probable that there
were as yet anything but " general stores " at hand. Doubtless it
was a great day for little Kingston, and cherished in memory for many
a future year, in circumstances where such " functions " were few and
far between.
Immediately after his inauguration, Governor Simcoe issued his
proclamation, dated July 16, 1792, dividing the Province of Upper
Canada into nineteen counties, Leeds and Frontenac being joined
together for purposes of representation. This proclamation is said to
have been issued from a small frame building, which still stands on
Queen Street, and which did duty as Government offices for the time.
He also appointed his first Councillors, among them several Kingston
men. Kingston had naturally cherished the hope of becoming the per-
manent seat of government, as Lord Dorchester had recommended;
but it was a hope destined to disappointment, for Governor Simcoe
did not share the views of Lord Dorchester, but was then bent on
making Newark his capital, and there Parliament met on the 17th of
September following, in a camp tent. As Governor Simcoe was at that
time desirous of opening up to settlement the still unsettled west, he
had thoughts of making London, by the River " Traneke," his capital,
but eventually yielded to local influence in favor of what was then and
afterwards called " Muddy Little York," but was finally reinstated in
its fine old Indian name of -Toronto.
Kingston at this time was, as a town, in what might be called
i. very elementary condition, for most of its streets were only a trail
through the woods. It had a wooden gaol and courthouse, surrounded
by a palisaded wall, but as yet no market, and but one small church.
But its citizens were staunch, loyal and public-spirited ; and it had, as
yet behind it, scarce ten years of existence.
IV.— THE OPENING OF THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF UNITED
CANADA BY LORD SYDENHAM.
Kingston had made rapid and substantial progress during the half
century which elapsed before we again look in upon it at an inter-
esting and important crisis of our national history — the reunion of
Upper and Lower Canada, under the name of United Canada, an
event which we may consider the first step towards the consolidation
of our wide Dominion.
Stirring events and troublous times had marked that half century
in the young Province. The harassing war of 1.812 had for three
years "kept its loyal people OL. the qui vive against the invader, yet
120
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Kingston, notwithstanding its exposed position and its strategic import-
ance, had come out unscathed by the hostilities which destroyed York
and Newark, doubtless because its position and importance had led to
its being so well fortified and garrisoned that the enemy was afraid to
put his fate to the touch in attacking it. It had also been almost un-
touched by the unfortunate conflict between fellow-citizens, in the
rising of Canadian yeomen against persistent mis-government, which
has been somewhat grandiloquently styled the " Rebellion," and a
rising terminating in a fiasco, but bringing in its train a series of
guerilla demonstrations from " the other side," still more mis-named
SHOAL TOWER.
Reproduced by the kindnesi of the. " British Whig," Kingston.
the " Patriot War." The battle for Responsible Government had beea
practically fought, Lord Durham's memorable " Report " had been
submitted to the British Parliament, and the Committee appointed to
consider and report, feeling that further information was needed, par-
ticularly .as to the willingness of the two Provinces to concur in tie
.proposed constitutional changes, selected Mr. Charles Poulett Thomson,
President of the Board of Trade, as the man best qualified for such a
mission. He came to Canada as Governor-General in 1839, and, throv-
ing himself into his appointed task, he soon won his spurs, and as
Lord Sydenham, won also the respect and gratitude of the colony tie
had been sent to govern. It was mainly through his unceasing efforts
that a Bill for the union of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada
was passed by the Imperial Parliament, and reluctantly agreed to by
the Conservatives of Upper Canada, hitherto strongly opposed to the
measure. In Lower Canada the opposition was stronger still, tut as
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 121
there existed at that time no popular Legislature, the Union was car-
ried through by a council specially appointed for that purpose, and the
Act of Union came into force by Koyal proclamation on February
10th, 1841.
•The changes in the Constitution of Canada brought to Kingston
the prize she had long coveted, through Lord Sydenham's selection of
it as the capital of the United Provinces, a proviso to this effect being,
indeed, inserted in the contract of the union. Its population was now
between five and six thousand, and though that was less than half of
the number Toronto had already attained, it was now, of course, a
much more central point, and had a traditionary claim in its previous
selection by Lord Dorchester as the capital of Upper Canada.
The advancement of the little town to such an exalted position
caused, naturally enough, much elation among its citizens, as well as
what we should now call a " boom " in real estate ; and high hopes of
civic prosperity were raised, only to be dashed by subsequent events.
In the absence of any suitable Government buildings, temporary sub-
titutes were found. The central portion of our now spacious hospital
just been completed, and became for a time the House of Parlia-
ment. A fine new residence, shortly before built by Archdeacon
Stuart, now part of the equipment of Queen's University, was turned
to account as lodgings for the members ; both of these buildings being
commodious and pleasantly situated, commanding a fine view of the
lake and opposite islands. Alwington House, a little way out of town
on the lake shore, the residence of the then Baron de Longueuil, be-
came the Viceregal abode, and, with some temporary additions, the
scene of much official hospitality under three successive Governors.
The 15th of June, 1841, was a day long remembered in Kingston,
the Limestone City, for on the afternoon of that day Lord Sydenham,
attended by a large official staff and by all the dignitaries of the place,
proceeded in state to open the first Parliament of United Canada. We
have still among us a lady well known and much respected by her
fellow citizens for her many estimable qualities and not least for her
public spirit, who still cherishes pleasant memories of that epoch-
making function. She could, of course, describe, from the standpoint
of an eye-witness, the brilliant scene, and the joy diffused throughout
the city at its elevation to the honors of the capital of United Canada.
The session which followed was an important and busy one. It
lasted but three months, but in that short period one hundred and two
ills were passed, all tending towards the progress of Canada, and
some of the very greatest consequence to its well-being, as, for instance,
the Bill for the establishment and support of elementary schools, and
122 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
that which, for the time at least, settled the vexed question of the dis-
posal of the Clergy Keserves. But its closing days were tragic enough.
Lord Sydenham' s unremitting labors during the hottest weather of the
summer undermined his already failing health, and a fall from his
horse early in September induced a fatal complication. He bore up
until his prorogation speech had been prepared >and corrected, and,
almost simultaneously with the ceremony of prorogation, the first and
last Lord Sydenham passed peacefully away from this earthly scene,
having, at least, faithfully accomplished the task committed to his
trust.
Lord Sydenham had desired to be buried beneath St. George's
Church, whither his remains were followed by a large concourse of
real mourners, for the death of the Governor was felt as a heavy loss
to the country. The Kingston Herald expressed the general sentiment
when it said: " All is finished. Parliament is prorogued, and the
Governor-General is no more. 'Sic transit gloria mundi/ The First
Parliament of United Canada has ended well, well beyond expecta-
tion, and much good has been achieved. The main positions of the
new Government have been sustained, and some of the essential meas-
ures of reform effected. Conflicting opinions have not been carried
out to any injurious extent in any way, and the members have all
parted in good humor."
Side by side with this local comment may be placed another con-
temporary tribute of esteem for the dead Governor, who had worn out
his life in the service of Canada — an extract from a published letter,
written at the time by the late Dr. Byerson, then stationed at Kingston :
" To lay the foundations of public liberty and, at the same time, to
strengthen the prerogative; to promote vast improvements and not
increase the public burdens; to promote a comprehensive system of
education upon Christian principles, without interfering with religious
scruples; to promote the influence and security of the Government by
teaching the people to govern themselves; to destroy party faction by
promoting the general good; to invest a bankrupt country with both
credit and resources, are conceptions and 'achievements which render
Lord Sydenham the first benefactor of Canada and place him in the
first rank of statesmen. His Lordship found a country divided, he
left it united ; he found it prostrate and paralytic, he left it erect and
vigorous; he found it mantled with despair, he left it blooming with
hope. Lord Sydenham has done more in two years to strengthen and
consolidate British power in Canada by his matchless industry and
truly Liberal-Conservative policy, than has been done during the ten
previous years by the increase of a standing army, and the erection of
SOME EPOCHS IN THE STORY OF OLD KINGSTON. 123
military fortifications. His Lordship has solved the difficult problem
that a people may be colonists and yet be free ; and in the solution of
that problem he has gained a triumph less imposing, but not less sub-
lime and scarcely less important, than the victory of Waterloo. He
has saved millions for England and secured the affections of Canada."
Lord Sydenham was buried, with all possible honors, under St.
George's Church, which has thus been associated with leading events
in Kingston's history. His name and important services were com-
memorated on a tablet erected to his memory by his family, which
remained on the walls of the enlarged church till it became a cathedral.
Being unfortunately destroyed when the church was burned down on
January 1st, 1899, a movement was made in 1901 to provide a new
one, by the Kingston branch of the Woman's National Council.
Endorsed by the whole of the National Council and by the principal
historical societies of Ontario, they petitioned the Ontario Government
to supply the means for this object, which that Government gracefully
and generously did. The new tablet, a satisfactory one in all respects,
was duly placed on the walls of the restored church, which, it may be
hoped, it will long adorn.
Kingston enjoyed her metropolitan position only for some three
years, and during that short period Government House was again dark-
ened by the shadow of death. Sir Charles Bagot, also an excellent
Governor, discharged the duties of his office for less than fifteen
months, and in the spring of 1843 Alwington House was, a second
time, the scene of a Viceregal funeral. Sir Charles Metcalfe, who
succeeded him, was a sufferer from an insidious disease during his
administration in Canada, and resided in Kingston for only about a
year. The third session of Parliament held in Kingston under his
regime, was an exciting one in political matters, but to Kingstonians
it was chiefly and sadly remarkable for the passing of a resolution that
the seat of Government should be transferred from Kingston to Mont-
real, a decision which, of course, brought a severe disappointment to its
citizens generally, and almost ruinous loss to those who had built and
speculated with very different expectations. Whether the transfer at
that time was best for the peace of the country is open to doubt, but
the hope of a return of the seat of Government to Kingston was long
cherished, and did not entirely die out until the Queen's selection of
Ottawa finally settled the question. If our good city was not destined
to become the permanent seat of our National Government, she has,
at least, achieved for herself the not less useful distinction of becoming
a well-equipped educational centre, moulding to no small extent the
intellectual progress and character of this fast growing " Canada of
KINGSTON IN 1819.
Reproduced by the kindness of the " British Whig," Kingston
This faithful sketch, recognized of late years by many old residents, was
from the pencil of Cadet Bayfield, R.N., afterwards Admiral Bayfield. It came
into possession of Major-General Cameron, R.M.C., and was reproduced by Prof.
Forshaw Day for the Whig and afterwards engraved as above. The village,
for it did not attain the dignity of a town until 1838, is seen to skirt the
harbor for about ten blocks, with fringe of trees reaching down to the summit
of the hill that now marks the centre of the city. The time honored Cataraqui
bridge was yet undreamt of, but Navy Bay had a pontoon bridge, to connect
the military and naval settlements. At the dockyard several frigates, active
in the War of 1812, are shown in permanent quarters out of commission, housed
in under wooden roofs. One was the Princess Charlotte, 42 guns. The forti-
fication shown is the first Fort Henry, built in 1818 by the Koyal Engineers
on the site of the present costly stone pile, erected in 1832. In 1820 barracks
were added to the old fort, which led to its enlargement and to its more formid-
able appearance. The two trees on the right of the foreground can be seen
still on Barriefield Heights, sturdy trunKs truly.
IX.
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTAKIO IN THE WAE OF 1812.
NOTES FROM THE PAPERS OF A NAVAL OFFICER THEN SERVING
ON HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPS.
BY BARLOW CUMBERLAND, M.A.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the O. H. S. at Kingston, July 19th, 1907.)
Sheltered on one side by the ramparts of Fort Henry and under
the lee of Point Frederic, now occupied by the buildings and estab-
lishment of the Koyal Military College, Kingston, lies a little bay, re-
poseful and placid, as indeed befits its present service, for it is the
graveyard of His Majesty's fleet of the War of 1812.
Once the shores were busy with the hauling of huge oaken tim-
bers and resounded to the clank of massive chains, and munitions of
124
I
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812. 125
war, the strokes of hammer and calking irons, and cheers rose
exultant as ship after ship was launched upon the waters to add
strength to the defence and carry defiance to the opposing foe.
Upon the Point had been erected the Eoyal Naval Dockyards, for
the construction and repair of the British Navy upon the Inland
Lakes. The ranges of barracks, some of which still remain, were
erected for the artificers anil workmen. The large stone building
alongside the anchorage, now occupied by the cadets of the College,
formed the shore quarters for the sailors, and from the then upper
three floors being left open for the full length like the decks of a ship
and fitted with hammocks, was known as the " Stone Frigate."
Upon this adjacent bay, known as " Navy Bay/' the warships then
lay at their moorings in all the bravery of their rigging and colors;
now all that is left of them is buried deep in the dark waters and re-
membered only in tradition.
We are so accustomed to seeing great steamers in active passage
between the ocean and the far Upper Lakes, and fast express trains
speeding by on our railways, that it is difficult for us to comprehend
the conditions of land and water transport as it existed nigh 100 years
ago. Still more so the character of the armaments which then sailed
the lakes when the first war navies made their appearance upon them.
A slight excursion into some contemporaneous records may not be
without interest.
War between the United States and Great Britain had been de-
clared at Washington on 19th June, 1812, and under the then slow-
going methods of communication the news only reached Sir Geo.
Prevost at Kingston on the 27'th.
Both sides, the American and the British, were equally unpre-
pared for naval operations on the Inland Lakes. There were some
local shipyards on the shores when war was announced, but they were
of no magnitude, nor were they provided with the necessary naval
supplies for construction or equipment. The bases for obtaining these
were at the ocean and far removed by tedious and expensive communi-
cation— on the Canadian side by bateaux from Montreal, slowly sur-
mounting the dangers of the St. Lawrence ; and on the American side
from Albany, by the mixed transport of road and river along the
courses of the Mohawk and the Oneida Valleys.
There were then no canals by which vessels already constructed
could be introduced, no naval stores, except such as were to be brought
from the seaboard; no inland depots of seamen trained for gunnery
or for discipline on warships in active service. The Navies for the
lakes had to be constructed and created.
126 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The garrisons and important centres of population of the belliger-
ents on Lake Ontario were far divided and situated at the far ends of
the lakes — on the American side, Sackett's Harbor and Ogdensburg
on the east, Lewiston and Fort Niagara to .the west ; on the Canadian
side, Kingston on the east and Fort George (Newark) and York
(Toronto) to the west.
On both sides of the lake single roads of primitive .and bush-mean-
dering character followed the shores, forming slow and difficult means
of communication, particularly for the transport of heavy supplies and
war material.
•The command of Lake Ontario was, therefore, of supreme import-
ance to whoever could obtain and hold it.
The local coasting shipping was immediately brought into service
with such crews and material as were to hand, some of the small sloops
and schooners being fitted to carry guns.
In the winter of 1812-13 strenuous activity reigned along the lines
of communication from the sea and in the United States dockyards
at Sackett's Harbor, and the Royal Naval Dockyard at Kingston and
Point Frederic.
An item in the Kingston Gazette of December 19th, 1812, evi-
dences these activities and recor.ds:
" We are happy to announce that 120 ship carpenters have arrived
at this place; more are expected." In the same issue quotation is
made from a private letter from the American side, dated. Sackett's
Harbor, October 10th, 1812, stating, " Every exertion is being made
by the Government to get command of the lake. We have a fine ship
on the stocks, which will be finished in the last of November, which
will mount thirty-six 32-pounders, with the Brig Oneida, mounting
twenty 32-pounders and five merchant vessels, which are to be con-
verted into gunboats."
Another ship, afterwards named the Pike, was also being laid down.
On the Canadian side preparations continued in progress. On
March 18th, 1813, the Kingston Gazette says:
" We are happy to announce the arrival at this place of several
distinguished naval officers, together with 400 or 500 seamen, as fine
looking fellows as were ever beheld."
These were the men of the Koyal Navy who had been sent through
overland from Halifax to man the warships on the lakes, which it
was expected would be ready for them on their arrival.
In the race for the supremacy by the building of new ships the
Americans in this winter surpassed the British.
Sir George Prevost, the Governor-General of Canada and " Com-
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812. 127
mander-in-Ghief of the Forces," was in headquarters at Kingston. Of
courteous and conciliating disposition, his lack of boldness and deci-
sion much hampered, and in some instances afterwards destroyed, the
more ardent action of his subordinate commanders. It had been
arranged that there should be two new 24-^un warships built during
this winter on the Canadian side; one of these it had been arranged
should be built at Kingston, the other at York. From a naval point
of view the separation was indefensible — Kingston was amply forti-
fied and garrisoned, while York was short of guns and naval stores,
weakly garrisoned and without any reasonable defences , and, yet worse
for expeditious construction, was farther from the base of naval sup-
plies. It may be that in response to representations from the west-
ern Constituencies for a granting to them of a share in the Govern-
ment Expenditures Governor Prevost, as a politician, had acquiesced
in a cry for local winter work, which, as a military commander, did
not justify his approval.
The result was disastrous.
While the British fleet in Kingston was still unprepared and the
new ship still in the stocks, the spring of 1813 found the " fine new
ship " at Sackett's Harbor ready for service as the Madison and sail-
ing with thirteen other vessels on 25th of April as flagship of
Chauncey's fleet for the attack on York.
York was attacked by the Americans and taken on the 27th, the
new 24-gun ship being built there, but unfinished, was burned on the
stocks and the 10-gun brig Gloucester, which had wintered in the port,
was captured.
This was a hard blow against the British naval supremacy on the
lake and thus early did the yielding of military requirements to polit-
ical influences reap its usual reward.
While this disaster was in progress and not until the 1st of March,
after General Sheaffe had retreated from York, where he left on 27th
April, was the other new ship launched at Kingston and named the
Wolfe.
The naval operations during the autumn and winter had not been
expeditiously or satisfactorily conducted and a change was made in
the command, Commodore Earle being superseded by Sir James Lucas
Yeo.
Sir James arrived at Kingston from the Atlantic squadron about
llth May and was appointed as Commodore, to take full " command of
His Majesty's ships and vessels on the Lakes of Canada,"
Additional batches of seamen had been received from the seaboard
and with Sir James another draft of naval officers for service in the
Royal ships.
128 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Among these was Lieut. John Tucker Williams, K.N., who had
served as a midshipman under Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen in
1801, and from whose papers, among which are his copies of the naval
Orders which had been from time to time issued to the ships on which
he served, information is obtained and the extracts from the Orders
are made.
The season of 1813 for active operations on the lakes had opened,
the Americans- had made their first successful foray on York, their
fleet had remained at that end of the lake, actively occupied in carry-
ing and convoying troops and supplies for General Dearborn's army
for the attack on Fort George which, as at York, mainly by the sup-
port and covering fire from the guns of the ships, was successfully
attacked and taken on 27th May.
Sir James Yeo, immediately on his arrival, had spurred up the
energies of the dilatory preparations. The Wolfe was pressed forward
to readiness for action and on 27th May he sailed out from port in
her as flagship of his squadron to deliver a counter-attack on Sackett's
Harbor and by destroying the shipping there make a bold stroke for
the supremacy of the lake.
Arriving next day off the south shore, the boats from his ships
captured a brigade of bateaux bringing reinforcements to the Ameri-
cans, but by hesitating orders from Sir George Prevost, who was
present and in supreme command, the troops on board the squadron,
which had been embarked in the boats and lay alongside for immed-
iate landing, were by his orders re-embarked and were not landed until
the 29th. A^ain indecision interfered, the attack was not pushed
home, and after setting fire to the new ship Pike on the stocks and
the Gloucester, which after her capture at York had been sent here by
Chauncey to be refitted and rearmed, her guns having been taken out
for the defence of the old fort at York, the troops were recalled and re-
embarked and the expedition returned to Kingston.
Commodore Yeo's object had been only partially obtained, for the
fire on the two ships was extinguished, they were immediately re-
paired and ready for action again in the end of July.
In the meantime Yeo was energetically active, his ships scoured
the lake, intercepting supplies, conducting cutting-out expeditions, and
supporting the British land forces. By his timely and spirited attack
on the American encampment on the shore at Forty Mile Creek on
8th June he dispersed their reinforcements and completed the rout so
successfully effected by Colonel Harvey and FitzGibbon on the pre-
vious day at Stony Creek. Afterwards, off Niagara and Burlington,
he conducted able lake engagements.
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812.
129
But what manner of ships were these in which the rival contestants
were sailing? We learn that they consisted of coasting schooners,
altered to carry guns, and of specially constructed warships.
The records given for 1813 are:
AMERICAN — CHAUNCEY'S SQUADRON, 1813*
Name. Rig.
Madison Ship
Oneida Brig
Hamilton! Schooner .
Scourgef Schooner .
Conquest Schooner .
Tomkins Schooner .
Julia Schooner .
Ontario Schooner .
Fair American .... Schooner .
Pert Schooner .
Asp Schooner .
Pikej Ship
Tonnage.
Crew.
Gune
593
200
24
243
100
16
112
50
10
110
50
9
82
40
6
96
30
8
82
35
2
53
35
2
53
35
2
50
25
1
57
25
1
875
300
28
Commander.
24 Com. Chauncey.
16 Lieut. Woolsley.
10 Lieut. McPherson.
Mr. Osgood.
Lieut. Pettigrew.
8 Lieut. Brown.
Mr. Trant.
Mr. Stevens.
Lieut. Chauncey
Lieut. Adams.
Lieut. Smith.
28 Flagship.
BRITISH — YEO'S SQUADRON. §
Name.
Wolfe
Eoyal George . . .
Melville
Earl Moira
Sir Sidney Smith
Beresford .
Ri*.
..Ship
..Ship
..Brig
..Brig
. . Schooner . .
, , Schooner . .
Tonnage.
637
510
279
262
216
187
Crew.
220
200
200
100
80
70
Guns.
23
22
14
14
12
12
Commander.
Sir Jas. L. Yeo.
Capt. W. H. Mulcaster.
Com. E. Spilsbury.
Mr. H. Hobbs.
Lt. and Com. H. C. Owen.
Mr. H. Eadcliffe.
The ships were " three-masters," for naval reports are given of the
Pike losing her fore top-gallant mast and of the foretop, maintop and
mizzentop masts of other ships being carried away. -The warships are
stated to have had regular quarters for their seamen, as, indeed, the
numbers of their crews would indicate. The schooners were cranky
and unweatherly, the guns on their decks making it difficult to pre-
vent their upsetting, as several of them in the course of the operations
did. In numbers of vessels the Americans exceeded, but they were
unequal in size and in their sailing qualities. Yeo's ships, though
fewer in number, were more equal in character and therefore better
capable of combined evolutions. In number and range of guns and
weight of metal the Americans also had greatly the superiority, the
* Roosevelt, "The Naval War of 1812."
t Upset off Niagara August 8th.
J Added to fleet July 31st.
§ Kingston Gazette, September 7th, 1813.
(Tonnage and crews are as given by RooBevelt.)
130
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
long 32's, which were mounted on all of them, being heavier and more
effective than the long 24's and short 32?s in Yeo's squadron.
By the courtesy of Dr. Jas. Bain, Public Librarian, copy has been
made of a rare print, "A Scene on Lake Ontario/7 published by
Shelton & Kensitt, Chesire, Conn., November, 1813, now preserved
in the Public Library, Toronto. The size of the sailors has been some-
what exaggerated by the draughtsman, making it difficult to estimate
the exact proportions of the ships, but the general contour is well
given and the figureheads and stern lanthorns are interesting.
A SCENE ON LAKE ONTARIO.
UNITED STATES SLOOP OF WAR "GEN. PIKE," COMMODORE CHAUNCBY, AND THE
BRITISH SLOOP OF WAR "WOLFE," SIR JAMES YEO, PREPARING
FOR ACTION, SEPTEMBER 28TH, 1813.
Published and sold by Shelton & Kensett, Cheshire, Con., Novem'r, 1st, 1813.
The American ensign on the Pike shows sixteen stars, being the
three added to the original thirteen of the flag of 1777, to represent
the additional states subsequently admitted to the Union — Vermont
in 1791, Kentucky in 1792 and Tennessee in 1796.
The flag on the Wolfe is the three-crossed Union Ensign of George
III., 1801.
^ The incident referred to is an indecisive meeting of the squadrons
off Burlington Heights, when no captures were effected, but the main
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812. 131
topmast and mainyard of the Wolfe being carried away, congratula-
tory report was made to headquarters by Commodore Chauncey,
hence, no doubt, the issue of the print.
Both sides seem to have been equally well served by their crews.
Being largely manned by officers and seamen of the Eoyal Navy, strict
discipline was maintained on the British ships, as indicated in the
report of a court-martial at Portsmouth.* The proprieties were also
observed. One of the Orders issued for the (guidance of midshipmen
states, " the gentlemen of the quarter-deck are always to wear a uni-
form dress appropriate to their stations, and on no account to appear
without stockings, but at all times to go on deck with brushed clothes
and shoes and be very attentive to cleanliness."
Although rivals at war, the old-time courtesies, which in those
early days were exhibited to one another by belligerents, evidently
existed between the fleets. After the capture of Fort George by the
Americans on 27th May, 1813, the Kingston Gazette records, " Arrived
on Thursday evening, 3rd June, from Sackett's Harbor, with a flag
of truce, the American schooner Lady of the Lake, bringing the ladies
of Major Dennis and Mr. Paymaster Brock, of the 49th Regiment,
who were politely accommodated with a passage from Fort George in
the Madison by Commodore Chauncey." The American ships were also
officered and manned largely by drafts from their regular navy on the
Atlantic. We may be sure, therefore, that the ladies received every
attention and were given pleasant passage, for a woman in distress
always appeals to a sailor's feelings and he dearly loves a petticoat.
With the close of the season of navigation for 1813, the contest
for the supremacy, by the building of new and larger ships, was ener-
getically continued.
The Americans laid down at Sackett's Harbor two 22-gun brigs,
which were launched in 1814, at end of April and May, as the Jeffer-
son and the Jones, and another ship, the Mohawk, 42 guns, was also
under construction.
At Kingston similar activity prevailed. The advertisements of the
Kingston Gazette evidence the call for men and the prices for timber.
" All artificers wanting employment will have liberal encourage-
ment on application at the Commandant Office at Point Frederic."
" Merchantable timber will be received at His Majesty's Naval
Yard.
" Oak, squaring not less than 14 per cubic ft., Is. 6d.
" Eock Elm, squaring not less than 14 per cubic ft., Is. 6d.
" Red Pine, not less than. 45 ft. long and 9 in. square, per cubic
ft, 2s. 6d."
* Robertson's "Landmarks," Vol. II.
132 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
tin the British side two frigates had been laid down at Kingston,
the Prince Regent, 58 guns, and Princess Charlotte, 42 guns, and
launched early in April, this time due, no doubt, to Sir James Yeo's
energy, in advance of their rivals.
The additions of the winter of 1813 and 1814 to the fleets were:
AMERICAN — CHAUNCEY'S SQUADRON.
Name. Rig. Tonnage. Crew. Guns.
Superior Ship 1580 500 62
Mohawk Ship 1350 350 42
Jefferson Brig 500 160 22
Jones Y Brig 500 160 22
BRITISH — YEO'S SQUADRON.
Name. Rig. Tonnage. Crew. Gune.
Prince Regent Ship 1450 435 58
Princesi Charlotte Ship 1215 315 42
In reading the accounts of this period it is well to remember that
the names of some of the British vessels of the previous year were
changed, the Wolfe to Montreal, Royal George to Niagara, Beresford
to Netley.
Another large ship, the St. Lawrence, 100 guns, was also laid down,
at Kingston, but was not launched until September, 1814, and, on
Peace being declared, was never sailed.
The advance in the sizes of the ships constructed on both sides in
the winter of 1813-14 over those of the previous years is most notice-
able, and indicates increased ability on the part of the ship-builders.
It is not within the scope of this paper to enter into or explain the
operations of the fleets during 1814. In the race for ship-building the
British had this year made earlier gains, but the superior numbers of
guns and range still remained with the Americans.
Previously it would almost appear that each fleet in turn, as addi-
tions had been made to the strength of the other, had been held in
harbor until, by the completion of another ship, the balance of sea
power had been more equalized. This year, the fleets, meeting on the
open lake, manoeuvred to obtain the advantage of position, the Ameri-
cans, under Chauncey, with their long-range guns, to engage at long
distance in calm weather ; the British, under Yeo, being better sailers,
but with shorter guns, for the weather-gauge, and to engage at closer
quarters. The reports of the Commanders, particularly those of
Chauncey, vary considerably in the motives assigned for the indecisive
meetings, which may reasonably be accounted for by the disparity in
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812. 133
armament, but Yeo certainly surpassed in keeping open the communi-
cations on the lake, and acting in consort with his land forces.
With much fairness Koosevelt (" Naval War of 1812 ") sums up
the year 1814 on Lake Ontario: " The success of the season was with
the British, as they held command over the lake for more than four
months, during which time they could co-operate with their army,
while the Americans held it for barely two months and a half."
With the conclusion of the war the fleets faded out of existence,
a few ships only having been kept in service. The dismantled ships
were laid up in port and, having been built of unseasoned timber, cut
fresh from the forests, either became victims in two or three years to
decay and dry rot, or were sunk to preserve their timbers, so thus their
form and appearance were soon forgotten. The illustration of " Kings-
ton in 1819 " shows the little bay, the lofty derrick in the shipyard
for raising the masts, and warships, dismantled and housed in. If
there are any records of the working plans of the ships, it would be
of much interest that they should be brought to light.
Mr. Justice John Hamilton (born 1833, died 1907), eldest son of
the Hon. Senator John Hamilton, of Kingston, said that he remem-
bered as a boy fishing from a boat around the hulls of the old sunken
war vessels in the anchorage of Point Frederic, some of the timbers
still projected and the shape of the hulls could be seen under water, in
form very much like half a walnut shell.
The fine ship Madison, at Sackett's Harbor, is described in the
Kingston Gazette, February 16thr 1813, as " A corvette-built ship of
the dimensions— 112 ft. keel, 32 1-2 ft. beam, 11 1-2 ft. hold; she
carried 24 32-pound guns and a crew of 200." This would be a very
round-shaped vessel, with a beam almost a third of her length, and
approximates closely with Judge Hamilton's description of the shape
of the British ships.
The Superior, of 1814, carried 62 guns, with a crew of 500 ; the
Prince Regent, 58 guns, and a crew of 435, and the 8t. Lawrence,
which never sailed, was a two-decker, to carry 100 guns, which makes
one wondsr where they placed such guns and stowed such crews upon
a draught which could not, for utility, have exceeded 11 or 12 feet.
Much has been written about the movements of the land forces in
the war, but there is here infinite opportunity and an untouched
chivalrous field for the historic novelist who will revive these ships,
man them again with their gallant crews, place his characters on board
them and sail them over the lakes in the stirring attacks and adven-
tures, midnight landings and lake engagements, with which the sea
story of the War of 1812 abounds.
134 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
News of the Treaty of Peace conducted at Ghent on December
24th, 1814, having found its belated way across the ocean and been
declared in America on February 15th, 1815, Sir James Yeo and most
of his men returned to the sea. Lieut. Williams, then serving on the
sloop Netley, remained with others to man the few vessels retained in
service on Lake Ontario and Lake Huron.
The energies of the neighboring peoples were now devoted to re-
pairing the ravages of the war and the period of reconciliation had
come. The policy of the British was in this direction, and seeing that
at the conclusion of the contest, notwithstanding the immense numeri-
cal superiority of the United States invading forces, they had been
driven back across the frontier, the Canadians had good reasons to be
gratified with the results.
That there was dissatisfaction and animosity still existing and
being fomented on the southern shores is evidenced by one of the
orders.
Commodore Sir E. C. R. Owen, K.C.B., had, in succession to Sir
James Yeo, been appointed " Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's
ships and vessels on the lakes of Canada."
In again transferring his command, he issued a confidential order
to his respective officers on the lakes, dated " On board His Majesty's
Ship Prince Regent at Kingston, Upper Canada, 5th day November,
1815."
" In turning over to another Officer the conduct of the naval ser-
vice upon the lakes I feel it necessary to apprise the Captains and
Commanders of the several ships and vessels of His Majesty's, that
acts of vexatious aggression have been committed by some of the Civil
Authorities under the Government of the United States, which cannot
fail to give great height to the acrimonious publications abounding in
their public papers, and made solely with a view to keep alive that
spirit of rancorous animosity which it was hoped would have subsided
with the war.
" Considering these acts as originating with individuals ignorant
of the real British character and with passions enflamed by the calum-
nies and falsehood, which are so boldly fabricated, they may be led to
practise further on a forbearance which their arrogance has been too
apt to attribute to wrong motives. It is my duty to caution the sev-
eral Captains and Commanders to continually be upon their guard,
and that whilst they meet every disposition which may be manifested
by our neighbors with a liberal frankness and endeavor to promote
reciprocal good-will by every means within their power, they hold
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812. 135
themselves in readiness on all occasions to repel any act of insult or
aggression which may be offered them, remembering that the honor of
the British character, as well as of its flag is in their hands, and it is
to be maintained with firmness.
" The day I hope is far distant when it will be needful to main-
tain by other means the respect and courtesy which is its due."
As between the regular forces of the navy on both sides we have
seen that courtesy, honorable emulation and a seaman's comradeship
existed, that these should not be interrupted by the acrimonious publi-
cations of a rabid press or the truculence of wordy individuals made
this call for forbearance a reasonable act on the part of the retiring
Commodore, and one which was entirely in consonance with the high-
minded British policy.
With the reduced number of ships the rank of the Naval Com-
mand appears to have been reduced. After the retirement of the Com-
modore, all the subsequent orders to the respective " Captains and Com-
manders of His Majesty's ships and vessels on the lakes " are signed
in succession by the " Senior Captain Commanding " on the flagship
stationed at Kingston, at first by Captain W. F. Wm. Owen, from the
Prince Regent, and afterwards by Captain Kobert Hall, from the
Montreal.
There being no aggressive naval operations in progress, the subse-
quent orders are mainly directed to internal matters of economy, issue
of stores, purchase of ship clothing, bedding, allowances to pursers,
reports of expenditures, etc., etc.
Extra allowance of pay is announced by the order dated 20th Sept.,
11816, as having been approved by the " Lords' Commissioners of the
Admiralty to the Officers, seamen and marines serving on the lakes of
Canada during the time they may serve thereon."
The schedule of rates given gives evidence of the completeness of
the manning of the crews and makes one still more wonder how the
various rankings were accommodated on board the vessels.
Per diem.
Commodore £1 0 0
Post Captain, three years ? 0
Post Captain, under three years 5 0
Lieutenants, Masters, Pursers, Surgeons, and Secretary . .
Assistant Surgeon
Officers of Marines according to their respective ranks.
136 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Per month.
Carpenters £2 7 0
Boatswains 1 13 6
Gunners 1 13 6
Masters, mates, Mids and Clerks 1 5 0
Armourers and Masters-at-arms 1 5 0
Carpenters mates, Caulkers, Kope-makers, Qr. Masters,
Gunsmiths, Sail-makers & Gunners mates 15 9
Yeomen of -the Powder-room, Corporals, Coxswains,
Gunners, Masters mates and Captain Forecastle .... 15 9
Armourers, Mates, Yeomen of the sheets, Captains Fore-
top, Maintop, Mizzen top, After guard, Trumpeters . . 140
Sail makers, mates, Quarter Gunners, Carpenters crew,
Sail makers crew, stewards, Cooks, Cooks' mates,
Coopers, Ab. Seamen, Ordy Seamen, Landsmen, Boys
and Marines 12 0
It has been stated by some writers on the period of the War of
1812-1815 that the British Government had given higher pay from
the beginning and throughout the war, in order to get selected men.
•This order states that the extra pay accorded is to commence on " 16th,
Sept. inst.," which indicates that the pay up to that time had been the
same as on the ocean ; and further, it concludes, " as this extra allow-
since of pay does not extend to any other Foreign Station, I am in
hopes that Officers, seamen and marines will fully appreciate the indul-
gence their Lordships have been pleased to grant them."
The advance of pay was evidently made at this time with the inten-
sion of inducing the officers and crews, as subsequent events proved it
did, to remain in service on the lakes, and eventually become residents
in Canada.
The expenditures of the war period must have been enormous, not
so much perhaps in maintenance as in the cost of transport and bring-
ing in naval armament and supplies.
A period of strictest scrutiny into every expenditure appears now
to have been initiated.
The accounts were ordered to be sent in more frequently and with
"fullest particulars." A perquisite of the captains ceased and they
were not to expect " Freight " for carrying " public money or specie,"
which was in future to be " carried free, in charge of a Commissary."
Allowances for pilotage were to cease and masters were given " six
navigable months on the lakes " in which to qualify themselves as
pilots. The ships' clerks were not any longer to advance cash to offi-
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812 137
rers, but bills could be drawn on the Deputy Commissioners, who were
to be stationed inland, one at Holland Landing and one at the Niagara
Frontier, as well as at Montreal.
Increased restrictions were placed upon the carriage of passengers
on Government ships.
It is recorded* that the steamer Bella Gore, Capt. Sandars, plied
in 1810 between Niagara, York and Kingston, and another steamer,
jocularly nicknamed " Con's Coffin/' between York and Magara,
under the command of Captain Con. During the hostilities, these
first steamboats had disappeared and the sailing packets left on the
lakes had no doubt deteriorated. The vessels of the navy passing to
and fro between the ports on the lakes formed a convenient and, no
doubt, favorite method of conveyance, but differences had arisen in the
amounts of the vouchers for the expenses of naval officers <and men
passing from one station to another, so an order was issued in 1815
for a scale of allowances per day " which was not to be exceeded."
" Captains and Commanders, per day, One Pound, one shilling.
" Lieutenants, Masters & Captains of Marines, One Pound, fifteen
shillngs.
" Surgeons, Pursers, Second Masters, Mates, Gunners, Boatswains,
Carpenters and subalterns of marines, per day, 10 shs.
" Midshipmen, Assistant Surgeons & Captains Clerks, per day,
Seven and Sixpence.
" Other petty Officers and Non. Com. Officers & Marines, per day,
Five Shillings.
" Seamen and Private Marines, per day, Two Sh. & Sixpence."
(It will be noted that in this and the previous order surgeons were
not given very high relative rank.)
This allowance was to be "in lieu of rations and lodgings " and
" not to be construed into compensation for carriage hire, but that
mode of conveyance which is mostly used in the country and which is
not expensive will only be allowed, unless particularly ordered."
No longer could the vouchers for travelling vary in detail, for they
were to be limited to an amount per diem.
In the conveyance of military officers, the officers of the navy had
hitherto been .allowed to put in accounts for " expense incurred in
entertaining the officers of the land forces on board the ships." With
the proverbial hospitality of the sailor, what jolly conviviality must
have accompanied these interchanges of acquaintance between the
* Robertson's "Landmarks," Vol. II.
138 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
brother officers of -the sister services ? But, alas, the period of close
scrutiny of accounts interfered. The Admiralty objected to their
Department being charged with expenses which they considered should
be borne by the Military Departments and at length the privilege was
stopped by a general order, dated Quebec, 9th April, 1816, issued by
the " Lieut. -General Commanding the Forces," directing that " when
Military Officers are ordered to embark on board ships of War on duty
they must bring on their own mess or make their own private arrange-
ments with the officers of the vessels for the accommodation during
their passage."
What chaff there may have been when first the gallant soldiers
came (alongside, what kindly enquiries as to where is your lunch bas-
ket? Have you forgotten your bed and bedding? Have you brought
your boot blacking ? etc., etc., to be followed by a cheery greeting and
a hearty welcome.
Lieut. Williams had up to this time been serving on the Lower
Lakes and was now transferred from the sloop Netley to the Upper
Lakes. His appointment as " Commander of His Majesty's Schooner
Surprise (via Clapperton)" was issued 26th October, 1816, by Capt.
Sir Eobert Hall, Knight and C.B., " Commander of His Majesty's
Ships on the Lakes of Canada," and is dated from " His Majesty's
Naval Establishment, Lake Huron."
This was from the then Naval Station at Penetanguishene. Capt.
Bonny castle, who visited the place in 1841, says in a letter, " The
Garrison is three miles from the village and is always called the
Establishment." At the present day the skeletons of some of the old
warships are to be seen sunken beneath the waters in the harbor and
the tombstones in the churchyard preserve the names of not a few of
the crews who manned them. In the Park at Holland Landing is
a huge Ship's Anchor which, having been drawn by eighteen yoke of
oxen this far on its journey up " Yonge Street " from York, was
dropped there on the " Declaration of Peace."
This visit of the Naval Commander-in-Chief to the interior may
have been provocative of a further order recorded, or perhaps it was the
increasing activity of scrutinizing auditors.
The order restricting the expenses for travelling had been based
on an allowance per diem. Some of the officers may have moved more
expeditiously, some perchance had a larger list of friendly acquaint-
ances and dallied by the way in visiting them or in enjoying the hos-
pitalities of their military brothers in return for hospitalities once
given on board the ships. A new order (20th November, 1816) was
now issued, stating ithe
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812.
" Previous order is liable to misconstruction as far as relates to
the time occupied in travelling/7 and a time limit between the stations
was set, " which is never to be exceeded, nor can any Officer expect to
be paid for a longer period than is herein specified.7'
Between Quebec and Montreal, when passage in steamboat is found
by Government no allowance
Quebec and Montreal, by land 2 days
Montreal and Isle Aux Noix 2 days
Montreal and Lachine 1 day
Montreal to Kingston, by bateaux 7 days
Montreal to Kingston, by land during winter 4 days
Kingston to Montreal, summer and winter 4 days
Kingston and York, by land 4 days
York and Nottawasaga 4 days
York and Burlington, by land 2 days
Burlington and Naval Establishment, Grand River 2 days
Burlington and Fort George, by land 1 day
Fort George and Fort Erie 1 day
Fort Erie and the Grand River 1 day
Grand River and Amherstburg 4 days
But even this limitation was not considered sufficient, for the
merciless order goes on to say:
" As such service will frequently be performed in a shorter period
than is presented by the said scale, the vouchers are to be made out
accordingly." No matter what, then, were the difficulties, or delays
by head winds or of muddy roads, it was a case with the auditor of
" Heads I win, tails you lose," while as for a fast team in a sleigh or
a speedy sail with a f airwind, such frivolities were not to be per-
mitted, except upon penalty of a reduction of allowance.
The times allowed for expeditious travel bring vividly before us
the wonderful contrast between these early days and ours, and the
different conditions under which we live in comparison with the early
pioneers.
In 1817 an arrangement or " convention " was arrived at as to the
naval force to be maintained by the respective Governments upon the
Inland Lakes. This was effected in the simple manner of the exchange
of identical letters, or diplomatic notes, on 28th April, 1817, between
Sir Charles Bagot, British Plenipotentiary at Washington, and
Richard Rush, Secretary of State for the United States. The naval
force on either side was to be restricted to one vessel each on Lake
140
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Champlain and Lake Ontario, and two vessels each on the Upper
Lakes, comprising Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior; each
vessel to be " not exceeding 100 tons burthen and armed with one 18-
pound cannon/' and their employment to be " restricted to such ser-
vices as will in no respect interfere with the proper duties of the
armed vessels of the other party." All other armed vessels on these
lakes were forthwith to be " dismantled and no other vessels of war
shall be there built or armed."* Orders bringing it into effect were
to be forthwith issued, and the convention was to remain in force sub-
ject to six months' notice, to be given by either party desiring to
annul it.
The disarmament and dispersion of both the Lake Xavies immedi-
ately followed.
The result of this disarmament is very clearly to be seen in the
interesting print of Kingston in 1828, drawn by James Gray and pub-
lished by Wickett & Stanford, London, 1828, copy of which is in the
Archives at Ottawa, and by kind permission of Dr. Doughty, Dominion
Archivist, is here reproduced.
The view is taken from the parapet of the roadway leading up to
Fort Henry. In front, on Navy Bay, are lying, to the right, three
dismantled warships, the masts taken out and the decks housed over;
one of these, on the side visible, is pierced on the main deck for fifteen
portholes; the portholes on the other vessels are not distinguishable.
In the centre are the shear legs of the derrick for lifting the masts out
of the ships, iand close beside the four-storied building of the " Stone
Frigate." To the left is a two-decker, housed in and pierced on main
deck for eleven -and on upper deck for twelve portholes, possibly either
the Prince Regent or the Princess Charlotte. Further behind is the
largest of all, an unfinished ship, pierced on upper deck for twenty-
two guns; the lower deck cannot be seen, as it is hidden behind the
other ships; this is probably the St. Lawrence. In the distance, on
the other side of Point Frederic, is the old town of Kingston. This
print gives ia fuller idea of the old ships, their huge and unwieldy
size, planned more for ocean than for lake service, and approximating
to the shape accorded them by tradition.
Many of the men of the British crews took their discharges and
settled in the country on Free Grant Lands in Canada, which were
given them by the Government. Around the shores of the lakes, par-
* These armed vessels of the agreed number have been since employed as revenue or
fishery protection gunboats. In 1905 the Americans introduced another, a small gunboat
captured from the Spaniards, which is stationed at Duluth and used by the local naval
volunteer company.
SI i
I 5
t
I
I
THE NAVIES ON LAKE ONTARIO IN THE WAR OF 1812. 141
ticularly of Lake Simcoe and Lake Ontario, are to be found the
descendants of the retired naval officers, who had applied their land
grants where in the autumn of their days they could still watch the
movements of the waves and be reminded of the oceans on which they
had attained their careers.
When the naval establishment on the lakes was discontinued Com-
mander Williams had returned to England and, having retired from
the service on half -pay, returned to Canada in 1818, bearing with him
a despatch from the Earl of Bathurst to the Duke of Richmond, author-
izing a grant of land to be made him in proportion to his rank. He
received as his grant by patent from the crown a number of properties
in the County of Durham and established for himself a homestead
near Port Hope and comprising one hundred acres on the shore of
Lake Ontario (which he named " Penrhyn Park," after his Welsh
associations). Here he settled down and, becoming a large landowner
in the district, became quite a personage in the County.
Of good height, portly presence, clad in the breeches, top boots and
many folded neck-kerchief of the period, he was familiarly known as
" The Squire.'7 He was appointed a magistrate, and from the list of
books in his library evidently took his position seriously and had
versed himself in the study of law. Subsequently he represented, from
1841 to 1848, the United Counties of Durham and Northumberland
in the Parliament of Upper Canada, giving particular attention to the
agricultural interests of his constituency. In the hotly contested elec-
tion in 1843 between himself and Mr. G. S. Boulton the polling place
for the county was at Newtonville and, under the then system of politi-
cal elections, was kept open for six days. Excitement ran high, there
was much turmoil and many personal encounters, in which the
Williams' rallying motto, " New measures, new men, my colors are
Naval blue," showed that the Commander had not forgotten the
stirring naval service of his early days. He died at " Penrhyn Park "
in 1854. His eldest son, Lieut-Colonel Arthur Williams, M.P., was
one of the notable figures in the North-West Rebellion of 1885 where,
after taking part with his regiment, the Midland Battalion, in the
engagement at Batoche, he contracted an illness and died while on
service on the banks of the Saskatchewan. A national monument
has been erected at Port Hope to his memory in the Town Square of
his birthplace. Two grandsons of the Commander are in His Majesty's
service— Lieut. -Colonel Victor Williams, of the Royal Canadian
Dragoons, who served in South Africa, and Lieut. Stanhope Williams,
of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.
Since 1817 the convention, subject to revocation on six months'
142
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
notice, has remained continuously in force for well nigh ninety yeai
Long may it so continue for the peace of the adjoining nations and
example to the world of the best way of avoiding causes of mistaken
or party offence, particularly in these more modern days, when a wide-
spread yellow press and inflammatory speaking individuals have even
more power to do damage and arouse animosities than in the
when the restriction was first instituted.
The old vessels and their gallant crews have long been laid at
respected in their history, beloved in their memories, each with theii
record, on both sides, of duty ably done for the Nations then ei
in warring strife, but now only rivals in the arts of promoting the wel
fare of their peoples and the preservation of peace throughout the
world.
CATAKAQUL
BY CHARLES MACKENZIE.
(Read at the Annual Meeting of the O. H. S. at Kingston, July 18th, 1907.)
Cataraqui primarily derived from the aboriginal language spoken
by the Six Nations, Hurons and other tribes of that lingual group, has
descended to us as a corruption of the French rendering of the aborig-
inal designation of the old "Kanata " (gaw-naw-daw) of the Confed-
eracy. The name of the " Kanata " was variously rendered by the
French.
Cataraqui, in its present corrupt pronunciation, possesses a re-
semblance to " Kanyatarake " (Gaw-nyaw-daw-raw-gay), signifying
" on the lake," an apparent proper designation of the " Kanata," and
many of aboriginal descent would translate it as such.
Cataraqui also resembles " Kayantarakwi " (Gaw-yawn-daw-raw-
gwee), the name of the Nannie berry in that language. But there need
be no speculation regarding its true meaning, for at the Onondaga and
Cattaragus Eeserves in New York State, at the Grand Eiver, Tyen-
danaga and St. Kegis Eeserves in Ontario, and at the Caughnawaga
and Two Mountain Eeserves in Quebec, the residents, when using the
aboriginal tongue and speaking of Kingston, call the city " Katarokon "
(Gaw-daw-roh-gohn). This designation is a composite word, having
CATARAQUI. 143
for its base " otara " clay (oh-daw-raw), changing to " otaro " (oh-daw-
roh), "clay in the water/7 not necessarily clay submerged, but also
clay that stands in the water, or that has its base in the water. In
the composite word " otaro " changes from the neuter to the feminine,
the feminine " ka " (gaw) replacing the neuter " o " ; it then signifies
" she is clay in the water." This form of the feminine usually denotes
activity and importance. There is yet a particle to be added that will
give the name its full form; that particle is"kon" (Gohn), particle
of "onakon" (oh-naw-gohn), signifying "in." The name will then
appear as " Katarokon " (Gaw-daw-roh-gohn), meaning "in she is
clay in the water." In the alphabet usually chosen to represent the
sounds in the language of the Confederacy the " a " is, as in French,
like " a " in hall, raw, caught ; the " e," as in French, like " a " in
may, rail, fair; the " i," as in French like "e" in seal, knee, heal;
the " o " always as in oat, coal, hole, but it must never be corrupted
like the "o" in dog, hog, frog; the "t" is sounded as a "d"; the
" k " like " g." If the name or word is rendered by French spelling
this rule holds good, with these additions, the French "y" being
different from the English when at the beginning of a syllable. If the
syllable is " yaw " or " ya " in English, the French rendering will be
" ia " ; if in English two syllables were " ree yaw " or " re ya " the
French word would be " ri ia." In French the English " w " is ren-
dered by " ou," and the syllable " ken " at the end of an aboriginal
word spelt by the French should be pronounced " gaw." The place
name " Katarokon," like -all aboriginal designations, requires proper
tonguing to make its meaning plain, the aboriginal method having a
tendency to pronounce " ka " (gaw) distinctly, " taro " (daw-roh) in
one section giving a full sound to the " o," the voice usually softening
on 'the last syllable, " kon," so that the sound of " n " is only apparent
on the closest observation, though the sound of " n " becomes very
plain if " haka " (haw-gaw), particle, signifying "dwellers," is
added. Those at the present day who use the language of the Con-
federacy, when speaking of the citizens of Kingston, call them
" Katarokonhaka " (Gaw-daw-roh-gohn-haw-gaw), signifying " dwell-
ers in she is clay in the water," and this designation closely resembles
the name of the swallow that is variously called the eve, cliff and
mason swallow. It is called in the same language " Katarakonhaka "
(Gaw-daw-raw-gohn-haw-gaw), signifying "she dwells in the clay,"
receiving this name from the fact that this swallow builds a casing or
hut for her nest of an inverted cone-like shape, constructed of clay.
The name of this swallow is frequently used by aborigines as a family
name for the swallows. A similar curiosity of that language is that
144
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
the name of the City of Hamilton is " Orowakon " (Oh-roh-waw-gohn),
signifying " in the gully.7 The land in the vicinity of the original
part of Hamilton or near it was gullied land. This aboriginal name
is frequently translated " in a ditch " or "in the valley," and the
name of the residents of Hamilton is " Orowakonhaka " (Oh-roh-waw-
gohn4iaw-gaw), signifying " dwellers in the gully," and this is the
precise designation of the sand martin or sand swallow that excavates
the tunnels for its nest in a side hill or slope that is gullied, and the
soil bare, without a covering of vegetation.
Katarokon took its name, according to aboriginal methods of nam-
ing places, from the clay in its immediate vicinity, and not from this
natural feature at a distance. It is probable the " kanata " was sur-
rounded by water, while the huts were on clay ground or the clay sloped
into the water at the " kanata " side ; or the village was on an islet or
clay point of from four to ten acres. If on a point, the land side may
have had an excavated moat or trench filled with water. The shores at
the chief part of the site of Kingston are of limestone rock, so the " kan-
ata " must have been situated north of the Cataraqui bridge, probably
at or near that place where the whitish clay that the Kingston Boys
call " lady clay " can be found. Fragments of articles, such as pipes,
etc., made of a similar clay, can be found at the village sites of
"Wanat" (waw-nawd), or Hurons, and of those bands whom the
French called the Northern Iroquois, in the County of Prince Edward
and along the Bay of Quinte. These fragments possess no reddish
tint, and appear like dried unburnt clay. " Katarokon " is said to
have been inhabited by Senecas and Oneidas when Champlain first
visited the " kanata." The proper designation of the Senecas is
" Katarakarashaka " (Gaw-daw-raw-gaw-raws-haw-gaw), signifying
" stinking clay dwellers," and their original territory was named
" Katarakaras" (Gaw-daw-raw-gaw-raws), "stinking clay," it probably
receiving this name from the condition of the cky in the vicinity of
their original village. Such clay is found in the Lake of the Moun-
tain, at Glenora, and at different places; it usually possesses a sul-
phurated, hydrogen like smell. Cattaragarus, in New York State, is
derived from " Gatarakaras," and it resembles Cataraqui, both orig-
inals having " otara," clay, as their basic word. When Cartier came
to Canada the " Wanat " were in possession of the land about Kat-
arokon. Later, after hostilities broke out between them and the Con-
federacy, they moved further west, and when Champlain came to Kat-
arokon there were " Wanat " at the vicinity of ,the head of the Bay
of Quinte.
"Wanat" (waw-nawd), corrupted into " Wyandotte," in literature
CATARAQUI. 145
is the proper designation of the Hurons. The people of the lingual
group of the Confederacy and of the Hurons were corn growers who
lived in villages, going on distant hunting expeditions, returning with
the preserved products of the chase. In this respect they differed from
the Missasauga tribes, who built few villages and grew little or no grain,
though all the aborigines raised tobacco in favored localities. The
aborigines, only possessing stone tools, were unable to clear the forest
for agricultural purposes, and had to clear the land with fire or take
possession of the site of a forest fire, or build their " kanata 7 near a
beaver meadow. My archaeological research shows their favorite site
for a village was along or near a creek or small river in the vicinity
of a beaver dam. In such localities they would find from a few to
hundreds of acres of flooded land well cleared, so that they, by destroy-
ing the dam, could drain and prepare to plant their corn, beans, sun-
flowers, tobacco, etc., which they cultivated when the Europeans first
visited this locality. At such village sites are found hollowed stones,
usually granite boulders, on which they crushed or ground their grain.
These stones originally had a convenient hollow that got worn smooth
and farther depressed from frequent use. Sometimes a small slab of
limestone or other rock will be found with a polished hollow that was
probably kept in the hut. The larger boulders were embedded in the soil
and were the public mills of the " kanata." The pestles or mullers
used were stones of a natural rounded form and of a size to conveni-
ently fit the hand. Such stones are numerous at village sites and can
be easily recognized by their having a smooth surface, acquired
through use. The village sites of the Missisauga tribes are usually near
the mouths of rivers. In such localities we do not usually find these
primitive mills, though there will be found the usual granite boulders,
with smooth, worn surfaces, that all aborigines used as .grindstones to
sharpen their stone took and weapons on. ISFow, Katarokon not occu-
pying a (typical site of a "kanata" of the Confederacy (the locality
not being suitable for agriculture), it can have been erected for no
other purpose than a fort or resting place, or capital, or place of com-
munication for the northern and southern bands of the Confederacy —
a place where they rested after crossing the St. Lawrence, called by
them the Kayonhakowa (Gaw-yohn-haw-goh-waw), meaning "the
mighty river." -The favorite crossing places were at the vicinity of
Cape Vincent and Ogdensburg. The actual site of a " kanata " of the
Confederacy and " wanat " was usually a barren knoll or elevated spot
on sandy, gravelly or shaly ground, this position apparently being
chosen so that the floor of the huts (which was the ground), sometimes
partially covered with rush mats, would be easily drained and firm in
10
146
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
wet weather. It was from Katarokon or its vicinity that the raid was
made on the Wanat or Huron missions in 1649, the reason for this
raid, according to traditions of the Kanyankehaka (Gawn-yawn-gay-
haw-gaw), or Mohawks, was that the Hurons decoyed a party of
Mohawks to go on a hunting expedition, then waylaid them and killed
and eat them. The Wanat were inveterate cannibals. Human "bones
mixed with animal bones can be found at their village sites and in
their ash heaps. Those missions were probably located near the
vicinity of the upper part of the Bay of Quinte. The people of this
lingual group usually built " kanatas " containing from six to forty
" kanonsa " (gaw-nohn-saw), huts or houses, of an oblong form,
occupied by a number of families, and there would be a large council
or storehouse, a larger building than those inhabited. Each tribe
would have a number of " kanata " along a small river or creek ; these
would be a comparatively short distance apant, the remainder of their
recognized territory being unoccupied and used as a hunting ground.
Much has been written by the French about Katarokon which requires
careful scrutiny. One account states the inhabitants or those congre-
gated there called the French Governor, " Onontiio," or, in aboriginal
style, "Onontiyo" (Oh-nohn-dee-yoh), "good mountain/' because the
Governor protected them from the Confederacy, in other words, from
themselves. The aborigines would not have practically called a man
God ; they would have considered that blasphemous. It would have been
used in the form signifying that he was like a good spirit to them. If
this actually occurred, then at that time the Senecas and Oneidas were
expelled, and the Hurons occupied Katarokon; or the old Kanata was
destroyed and the French settlement retained its name or it was used
as a place of rendezvous by the Wanat or Hurons. In the language of
the Missisauga tribes, God is called " Manito " (Maw-nee-doh), a town
is " otana " (oh-daw-naw) and a house " wikiwam " ( wee-gee- wawm).
XL
CAPTAIN WILLIAM GILKISOK
(The following notes on the life of Captain William Gilkison are taken from a paper
prepared by Miss Augusta Isabella Grant Gilkison, of Brantford, daughter of Jasper Tough
Gilkison, and granddaughter of Captain William Gilkison.)
William Gilkison was born at Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, on the
9th of March, 1777. His parents were David Gilkison and Mary
Walker. The celebrated Scottish novelist John Gait was his cousin.
John Gait, the Manager of the Canada Company, was the founder of
Guelph, and in 1832 Captain Gilkison founded the settlement which
he named Elora. After some years as a sailor and having been pris-
oner in France for some months, he escaped in a small boat. He had
tired of (the sea, so he crossed the ocean and iarrived in New York in
1796, having letters of introduction to John Jacob Astor and many
others. He was given command of a schooner on Lake Erie, owned
by <istor, and employed in the service of the Northwest Company.
For six years he remained in command. On the 13th of June, 1803,
he was married at Amherstburg rfco Isabella, the sixth daughter of Com-
modore the Hon. Alexander Grant. His business carried him from
place to place. His eldest son was born at Amherstburg, the second
at Sandwich, the third at Detroit, the fourth at Queenston, the fifth
at Fresco tt and the sixth, Jasper Tough Gilkison, at Johnston (13th
March, 1814). After this he went to Glasgow, in order to allow his
boys to be educated, and while residing there five more sons were
added to his family, making eleven in all. It might be mentioned
here that the family of his father-in-law, Commodore Grant, consisted
of eleven daughters and one son. Captain Gilkison lived in Brock-
ville in 1810 and in 1811 built the first house in Frescott. At this
latter place his fifth son, Archibald, was born. He studied law and
in the fifties was a judge at Ficton. During the War of 1812 Sir
Isaac Brock appointed William Gilkison Field Quarter-master Gen-
eral, with the rank of Captain. He was present at the Battle of
Chrysler's Farm, under the command of Colonel Morrison, and carried
off the field Major Duncan Eraser. Two bateaux which had been
landed at Mrs. Stewart's on Hoopler's Creek were plundered and
destroyed. He applied to Sir George Frevost for compensation but
147
148 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
got no redress. Again, in 1825, through Mr. Allan, of York, he filed
a claim with Mr. MacAulay, but with the same result.
In 1828 Jasper Tough Gilkison had returned from Glasgow and
was engaged in the service of Mr. Morris, who carried on then a for-
warding business. His father, Captain Gilkison, was still at Glasgow,
but a letter from the son to the father indicates that 'the latter contem-
plated soon returning to Canada iafter his fifteen years' residence
abroad. Jasper -Tough Gilkison married Mary E., the third daughter
of Thomas McCormick, of Niagara, whose wife was Augusta, the
second daughter of Captain William Jarvis, first Secretary of Upper
Canada.
Captain William Gilkison returned to Canada in April, 1832. In
September of that year he bought a farm at Brantford and settled
there. In November of the same year he began the settlement at Elora.
He did not long survive his return to Upper Canada. While on his
way home from Hamilton ito Brantford he took ill and died of
apoplexy, April 23rd, 1833, at Tuscarora Parsonage, Onondaga. The
Rev. Abraham N"elles was missionary then. Captain Gilkison was
buried at the old Mohawk Church, Brantford.
Children of Captain Gilkison.
1. David, the eldest son, was at the founding of Guelph, assisti:
John Gait. He died at Toronto in 1854.
2. William Gait died in India in 1830.
3. Alexander Grant lived and died in Glasgow.
4. Kobert was a shipbuilder at Glasgow. He came out to Niagara
in 1834 and up to 1840 he built the steamers for the Niagara
Dock Company — the Traveller, Transit, Queen Victoria, Gore,
Niagara and others. He died in Scotland in 1845.
5. Archibald studied law and was Judge at Picton.
6. Jasper Tough was the first Secretary of the Great Western Railway
in 1836. In 1860 he was Assistant Adjutant-General o
Canada. From 1862 to 1891 he was Superintendent of the Si
Nations of the Grand Kiver. He died 16th November, 1906,
aged 93 years.
7. Daniel Mercer was a lawyer in Brantford, -where he died in 1861,
XII.
:AKLY CHUKCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA,
STAMFOKD AND CHIPPAWA, WITH MARRIAGE
RECORDS OF THOMAS CUMMINGS, AND
EXTRACTS FKOM THE CUMMINGS'
PAPERS.
EDITED BY JANET CARNOCHAN.
The following records were obtained from various sources and
relate to three early churches of the Niagara Peninsula and to a noted
merchant of Ohippawa.
The records of the Stamford Church were kindly loaned by Mr.
McMicking, and it is told with pardonable pride were once produced
in a court of justice to decide a lawsuit.
Those relating to Chippawa were rescued by Colonel Cruikshank
from an old building where old iaccount books were found, some of
them almost undecipherable from the effects of rain and damp, some
mildewed and decayed, and now recopied by kind permission from that
gentleman's first copy.
Stamford Church was probably the first in Upper Canada, with
perhaps the exception of the Mohawk Church, near Brantford. It is
supposed to have been built in 178 6 or 1787, but the earliest records
are unfortunately lost. The oldest record in the .graveyard is 1793.
In the isession book the name is the Associate Presbyterian Society,
and the congregation is still in connection with the churches of the
United States. The faithful pastor, who for nearly thirty years kept
the records here printed, is thus commemorated in the graveyard:
" In memory of the Eev. John Russell, D.D., Pastor of the Asso-
ciate Presbyterian congregation of Stamford, who died March 3rd,
1854, in the 58th year of his age and 28th of his ministry. After he
had served this generation, by the will of God he fell on sleep. ' Be
thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.' Requies-
cat in Pace."
The marriages performed by Thomas Cummings, of which the
record is so quaintly expressed, " Be it remembered," were legal by
Act of Parliament, as if no clergyman were nearer than eighteen miles
the ceremony could be performed by a justice of the peace. The Rev.
149
150
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
K. Leeming did not arrive till 1820, and it is likely there was not
always a resident minister in Stamford, and Niagara, where congre-
gations dated from 1792, was distant eighteen miles. Thomas Cum-
mings was the first settler, coming in 1784, and did an extensive busi-
ness as a merchant. The books kept by him are models of neatness,
dating from 1796, and the same methodical habits are shown in the
records of his son, James Cummings.
The records of the building of the Lundy's Lane Church are inter-
esting, as Drummond Hill, where the present church stands, as did also
that which preceded it, was /the scene of the Battle of Lundy's Lane,
the hill alternately held on that night of 25th July by foemen using
the bayonet, that hill where the next day the bodies of the slain were
consumed to ashes after a battle the most stubbornly contested of any
in the War of 1812, in which each side claims the victory, the loss on
each side nearly equal, about 900 in killed, wounded and missing, but
our forces remaining in possession of the field and the enemy retreat-
ing, it is with reason that we claim that Lundy's Lane was ours.
I.— REGISTER AND SESSION BOOK OF THE STAMFORD ASSOCIATE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, REV. JOHN RUSSELL, D.D.,
MINISTER.
NOTE. — The book is dated Forres, October 30th, 1820, then Stamford, U.C.,
1827, and is in very small, fine writing.
1827.
MAKBIED.
April 12. In the Township of Pelham, Jas. Watson, of Thorold, to
Eleanor McGinnis, of Pelham, by special license from
R. Grant, Esq.
19. In the Township of Stamford, John Thar son to Naomi
Clow, both of the Township of Stamford, by special
license from R. Grant, Esq.
23. Jas. Smith, of Stamford, to Janet McCradie,' by special
license from R. Grant, Esq.
17. In the Township of Stamford, Wm. Hickson -to May
McLellan, both of the Township of Stamford, by
special license from R. Grant, Esq.
In the Township of Niagara, Daniel Cooper to Catherine
Armstrong, both of the said township, by license.
27. In the Township of Niagara, Jacob Putman, of Bertie, ta
Rebecca Young, of Niagara, by special license.
May
June
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 151
dig. 17. In the Village of Stamford, David Ostrander, of Stam-
ford, to Lucy Young, of Niagara, by license from
R. Grant.
Sept. 13. In the Village of Stamford, John Bastedo, of Dundas, to
Susan Ayton, of Stamford, per license from R. Grant.
4. In the Village of Stamford, Eobert Thorn, of Thorold, to
Phebe Heinor, per special license from R. Grant, Esq.
9. Christopher Beamer to Esther Man, by Rev. Mr. Eastman.
10. Jas. Everingsham, of Crowland, to Nancy Mathews, of
Thorold, by special license from R. Grant, Esq.
22. Alpha H. Shaw, of Tomkins County, N.Y., to Almira
Phelps, of Grantham, by special license from R.
Grant, Esq.
fov. 8. Thos. Cartwright to Catherine Thompson, both of 'the
Township of Stamford, by special license from R.
Grant, Esq.
?c. 22. Colin Mathews to Abigail Hagar, both of the Township
of Thorold, by special license from R. Grant, Esq.
24. Alexander Depese, of Bain, to Elizzia Strawberge, of Gran-
tham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian con-
gregation of Stamford and Thorold.
1828.
Jan. 24. Peter Lessing to Elizabeth McLellan, both of the Township
of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
31. William McLellan to Emeline Useyen, both of the Town-
|| ship of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
March 4. Jas. Goring Parnall to Elizabeth Seed, both of the Town-
ship of Grantham, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
5. Daniel S. Brown to Maria Ann Groff, both of the Town-
ship of Thorold, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
6. Alexander McKerlie to Mary Ann Bender, both of the
Township of Sitamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
11. Ira Needs to Mary Morris, both of the Township of Gran-
tham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian con-
gregation of Stamford and Thorold.
22. Jas. Duff to Jane McKerlie, both of the Township of
Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
31. Moses Cook to Sarah May, both of the Township of
Grantham, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
April 3. Alexander Rogers to Delilah Markle, both of the Town-
ship of Niagara, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
152
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
April 10. John Gillis, of Thorold, to Sarah Newkirk, of Grantham,
by license from E. Grant, Esq.
21. Samuel Eice to Eebecca Forrester, both of the Township
of Thorold. Published in the Associate congregation
of Stamford and Thorold.
Jos. Thorn, of Stamford, to Sarah Eice, of Thorold. Pub-
lished in the Associate Presbyterian congregation of
Stamford and Thorold.
29. Eichard Thomson to Sarah Hardison, both of the Township
of Bertie, by license from E. Grant, Esq.
May 10. James Field, of the Township of Niagara, to Maria Mid-
daugh, of the Township of Stamford, by license from
E. Grant, Esq.
13. Jas. MeOwen, of Grantham, • to Sophia McKinley, of
Niagara, by license from E. Grant, Esq.
June 16. David Kemp, of the Township of Niagara, to Mary Tuttle,
of the Township of Stamford, by license from E.
Grant, Esq.
July 8. Jos. Vanevery, of the Township of Stamford, to Mary
Hyslop, of Thorold, per license from E. Grant.
10. Isaac Clark, of Thorold, to Margaret Cavers, of Grantham.
Published in the Associate Presbyterian congregation
of Stamford and Thorold.
16. John Beamer, in the Township of Louth, to Maria Jane
May, of the Township of Grantham. Published in the
Associate Presbyterian congregation of Stamford and
Thorold.
Sept. 24. John Corwine, of Stamford, to Catharine Upper, of
Thorold, by license from E. Grant, Esq.
25. Zechariah Cole to Sarah Shulties, both of the Township
of Grantham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford.
Oct. 6. Joseph Wynn to Mary McCabe, both of the Township of
Niagara, by license from E. Grant, Esq.
14. Henry May, of the Village of Dundas, to Maria Sweazy,
of the Township of Thorold, by license from E.
Grant, Esq.
Nov. 6. John Kilman to Margaret McKerlie, both of the Town-
ship of Stamford, by license from E. Grant, Esq.
11. Benjamin Cherrier to Eliza Hudson, both of the Town-
ship of Stamford, by license from E. Grant, Esq.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 153
2. Henry Sitzer, of Stamford, to Mary Ann Renen, of
Thorold. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford.
10. Luther Dunn to Mary Miller, both of St. David's, by
license.
25. Jacob E. Terry to Catherine Brown, both of the Township
of Niagara, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
1829.
Jan. 22. Simon Kemp to Deborah Ereel, both of the Township of
Niagara, by license.
27. William Upper to Ann Sidey, both of the Township of
» Thorold. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford and Thorold.
Jacob Kerr, of the Township of Grantham, to Isabel
Sidey, of the Township of Thorold. Published in the
Associate Presbyterian congregation of Stamford and
Thorold.
Jj'eb. 5. George Hutt, of the Township of Stamford, to Susannah
McKinley, of the Township of Niagara, by license
from R. Grant, Esq.
12. Gilbert E. Fields to Rebecca Froman,* both of the Town-
ship of Niagara, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
March 10. Jacob Hill, of Thorold, to Sarah Dunham, of Stamford.
Published in the Associate Presbyterian congregation of
Stamford.
19. Abraham Markle to Hannah Crysler, both of the Town-
ship of Niagara, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
April 16. Robert Garner, of Stamford to Lydia Spencer, of Thorold,
by license from R. Grant, Esq.
22. Stephen Parnall to Eliza Kip, boith of the Township of
Grantham, by license from R. Grant.
May 8. Henry Elingal Bossem to Sally Ellsworth, both of the
Township of Grantham, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
14. William Bender to Rebecca Green, both of the Township
of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
28. Jonas Fortner to Mary M. Neville, bo>th of the Township
of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
June 10. Daniel Cooper to Jane Cooper, both of the Township of
Niagara, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
18. Samuel Hatch to Margaret Hardy, both of the Township
of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
*Vrooman.
154 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
June 24. John C. Banks, of the Township of Thorold, to Henny
Arm Shultes, of the Township of Niagara. Published
in the Associate Presbyterian congregation of Stam-
ford and Thorold.
26. James Brown Jones, of the Township of Niagara, to Mary
Bessey, of the Township of Grantham, by license from
K. Grant, Esq.
July 2. Francis Bogarders* to Catherine DeWilt, both of the Town-
ship of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
Aug. 2. Sidney Robent Squire to Susan Hoover, both of the Ta\
ship of Thorold, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
Sept. 22. Charles McKenzie to Jane Pitkaithley, both of the Town-
ship of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
29. William Warner, of the Township of Niagara, to Isabella
Orr, of the Township of Thorold, by license from R.
Grant, Esq.
Oct. 1. Mathew Thomas, of the Township of Thorold, to Eliza-
beth Lampman, of the Township of Stamford, by
license from R. Grant, Esq.
Nov. 9. Hiram Lafleur, of Chinquacousy, to Martha Ostrander,
Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
Dec. 29. Wm. L. Peterson to Susanna McMicking, both of
Township of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
1830.
Jan. 5. Usher Goldsmith to Amy Smith, both of the Township of
Louth. Published in the Associate congregation of
Stamford.
19. Conrad Shoock to Mary McDonald, both of the Township
of Grantham, by license from R. Grant.
21. Jacob Hainer, of the Township of Grantham, ,to Parmela
Smith, of the Township of Thorold, by special license.
Feb. 18. Hugh McKerrall to Emily Dawson, both of the Town-
ship of Stamford, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
March 10. Richard Clement to Deborah Medach,t both of the Town-
ship of Niagara, by license from R. Grant.
24. Philip Wilson to Sally Kelly, both of the Township of
Grantham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford, etc.
*Bogardus.
fMiddaugh.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 155
March 24. William Head to Sally Hike, both of the Township of
Grantham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford.
30. George Coulter to Ann Vanderburgh, both of the Town-
ship of Thorold, by license from K. Grant.
5. Joseph Upper ibo Charlotte Mathews, both of the Town-
ship of Thorold, by license from K. Grant, Esq.
12. Keuben Biggar to Elizabeth Bender, both of the Township
of Stamford, by license from K. Grant.
19. George Cook, of St. David's, to Sally Coos, both of the
Township of Stamford. Published in the Associate
Presbyterian congregation of Stamford and Thorold.
June 30. Lewis Jackson rfco Sally Boston, both of St. David's. Pub-
lished in the Associate Presbyterian congregation of
Stamford.
July 13. Martin Sitzer to Anna Margaret Shriver, both of the
Township of Thorold. Published in the Associate
Presbyterian congregation of Stamford and Thorold.
Sept. 21. George Upper, of the Township of Thorold, to Phebe
Cook, of the Township of Crowland, by license from
R. Grant.
30. Joseph Midach,* of the Township of Niagara, to Susan
Johnson, of the Township of Stamford, by license
from R. Grant.
Oct. 25. Joseph J. Upper, in the Township of Thorold, to Mary
Ann Here, in the Township of Stamford. Published
in the Associate Presbyterian congregation of Stamford.
Dec. 15. Robert Loree, of the Township of Stamford, to Rhoda
Williams, of the Township of Thorold, by license from
R. Grant.
23. John Lennox to Frances Pew, both of the Township of
Stamford, by license from R. Grant.
29. Theophilus Brundage, of the Township of Grantham, to
Jane Badgeley, of the Township of Thorold, by license
from R. Grant.
1831.
Jan. 6. James Neville, of the Township of Stamford, to Mary
Wilkison, of the Township of Thorold, by license
from R. Grant.
*Probably Middaugh.
156
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Jan. 6. Obadiah Hopkins to Ann Swayzie, both of the Township of
Thorold, by license from R. Grant.
19. John Hawkins, of Pendleton, County of Niagara, Sta1
of N. York, to Nelly Burch, of Stamford, U. Canac
by license from R. Grant.
20. Richard Smith to Phebe Street, both of St. John's,
ship of Thorold, by license from R. Grant, Esq.
Feb. 2. George Bender, of the Township of Stamford, to Hest
Doan, of the Township of Thorold, by license froi
R. Grant.
11. Abram Secord to Charlotte Vansickle, both of the Township
of Grantham, by license issued at Niagara.
15. Enos Shrigley, of the Township of Pelham, to Eliza
Brown, of the Township of Thorold. Published in the
Associate Presbyterian congregation of Stamford.
March 1. John \7anderburg to Abigail Spesnor, both of the Town-
ship of Stamford, by license from R. Grant.
3. Christian Warner, junior, to Margaret Precure, both of
the Township of Niagara, by license from R. Grant.
John Mitchell, Alexander Miller, witnesses.
11. William Little, of York, to Isabella Thomson, of Niagara.
Published in the Associate Presbyterian congregation
of Stamford and Thorold. John Eaglesum, James
Francis, witnesses.
29. Amos Bradshaw, of Thorold, to Susannah Misner, of
Crowland. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford. John Misner and Elisha
Misner, witnesses.
April 28. Hiram McDowal to Margaret Upper, bcxth in the Town-
chip of Thorold, by license from R. Grant. Anthony
Upper and David McDowal, witnesses.
May 2. William Smith, of Pelham, to Mary Cof, of Stamford.
Published in the Associate Presbyterian congregation
of Stamford and Thorold. Ezekiel Rice and William
Rice, witnesses.
10. Elijah Gleason to Rachel Smith, both in the Township of
Pelham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian con-
gregation of Stamford and Thorold. Daniel Stump
and Catherine Smith, witnesses.
12. David Lynch to Elizabeth Spencer, both in the Township
of Stamford, by license from R. Grant. William
Hepburn and Benjamin Cormine, witnesses.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 157
May 18. William B. O. Eiley, of Wainsfleet, to Eliza Chapman, of
Pelham. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford. Enos Sprigley and Alex.
Brown, witnesses.
25. William McCracken, of Crowland, to Maria Emerick, of
Thorold, by license from E. Grant. Andrew Nevils,
David Snively, witnesses.
Tune 16. Samuel Darling, of Thorold, to Charlotte Celia Wilson, of
Pelham, by license from E. Grant. Lewis Wilson and
Andrew More, witnesses.
22. David McDowal to Elizabeth Upper, both of the Town-
ship of Thorold, by license from E. Grant. Antony
Upper and Hiram McDowal, witnesses.
29. John Johnson to Ann Hoswell, both of the Township of
Stamford, by license from E. Grant. Henry Hoswel
and William Everingham, witnesses.
July 7. John Blanchard to Jane Hartswell, both of the Township
of Stamford. Published in the Associate Presbyterian
congregation of Stamford. James Hyat and Joseph
Medach,* witnesses.
13. Henry Howal to Catherine Ann Garrison, both in the
Township of Stamford, by license from E. Gnant.
David Close and John McKinley, witnesses.
14. James Emerick, of Thorold, to Catherine McCracken, of
Crowland, by license from E. Grant. James Mc-
Cracken and John Emerick, witnesses.
Aug. 22. Nicolas Potts, of Crowland, to Charity Warner, of
Niagara, by license. Christian Warner, Sr., and Thos.
J. Nevills, witnesses.
Sept. 1. Philip Wilson to Jemima Merithew, both of the Township
of Grantham. Published in the Associate Presby-
terian congregation of Stamford and Thorold. Jona-
than Merithew and John Lampman, witnesses.
James Hulbert, of Stamford, to Salesdon Cook, of Crow-
land. Published in -the Associate Presbyterian con-
gregation of Stamford. Elijah Cooper and Mary
Misner, witnesses.
William Fram to Jane Boyd, both of the Township of
Stamford, by license from E. Grant. Stephen Peer
and Ann Bell, witnesses.
*Probably Middaugh.
158 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Sept. 5. William Rice to Rebecca Brooks, both of the Township of
Stamford, by license from R. Grant. John Wilson
ancl Alfred W. Allen, witnesses.
Oct. 12. Reuben Goodman, of Grantham, to Hannah Midaugh, of
Niagara, by license from R. Grant. John Midaugh
and Smith Midaugh, witnesses.
13. William Johnson to Ann Margaret Lampman, both of th(
Township of Stamford, by license from R. Grant
William Lampman, George Shiaw, witnesses.
Nov. 16. Ephraim Hopkins to Mary Willson, both of the Township
of Thorold, by license. George Shaw and Hetty Ho]
kins, witnesses.
22. Henry Hoover, of Thorold, to Caitherine Jane Pew,
Stamford, by license from R. Grant. George Hoovei
and John Crawford, witnesses.
Dec. 15. Alonzo Young to Ann McCredie, both of the Township
of Willoughby, by license. James Smith, Janet
Smith, witnesses.
1832.
Jan. 11. George Shaw to Mehitabel Hopkins, both of the Township
of Thorold, by license. Ephraim Hopkins and Mary
Hopkins, witnesses.
19. Robert Campbell to Margaret McLeod, both of the Town-
ship of Thorold, by license. Thos. Bald and William
Orr, witnesses.
25. William Davis, of the Township of Niagara, to Hellen
Bender, of the Township of Stamford, by license.
John Davis and John Hawkins, witnesses.
Feb. 2. Robert Wilkinson to Rebecca Vanderburgh, both of the
Township of Thorold, by license. Jacob Vanderburgh
and William Selewin, witnesses.
Y. William Coughell to Jane Merethew, Niagara Township, by
license. John Coughell, Aaron Allen, witnesses.
8. George Hoover, of the Township of Thorold, to Wilhain
Jackson Falconbridge, of 'the Township of Stamford,
by license. Samuel Falconbridge and Henry Hoover,
witnesses.
16. Thomas Clark, of Thorold, to Isabella Cavers, of Gran-
tham. Published. Blateley Robinson and James Rob-
inson, witnesses.
I
Feb.
April
June
July
Oct.
ov.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 159
23. Elijah W. Devaurex to Catherine Nhier, both of the Town-
ship of Grantham. Lewis Travers and George Aire,
witnesses.
5. By license, Samuel Conger to Maria Weiner, both of the
Township of Niagara. Eichard H. Secord and Samuel
R. Secord, witnesses.
16. By license, John Mitohell to Mary Henderson, both of the
Township of Stamford. Joseph Caleff and Alexander
Wallace, witnesses.
18. By license, George Coon, of the Township of Stamford, to
Dradama Collard, of the Township of Niagara.
Elijah Collard and Peter Hoover, witnesses.
23. Peter Lampman, of Stamford, to Catherine Cole, of
Grantham, by license. John Cole and William
Seburn, witnesses.
21. By license, Eobert Kelly to Caroline Kerr, of the Town-
ship of Thorold. Aaron Theal and Hannah Ann
Kelly, witnesses.
31. By license, Alexander Page, of Thorold, to Edith Young,
of Crowland. Jonathan Page and Mary Ann Young,
witnesses.
11. By license, Lewis Robinson to Mary Ann Stuart, both of
the Township of Niagara. Richard Boltemore and
Isaac Boltemore, witnesses.
22. By publishing of banns, Robert Cruikshank, of Stamford,
to Catherine Wright, of Crowland. Thomas Wright
and Jacob Young, witnesses.
25. By publishing, William Mclntyre to Elizabeth Falkner,
both of St. David's. George Cook, Isaac Baltimore,
witnesses.
15. By publishing, Bletchly Robins, of Thorold, to Amy
Cavers. Grant Walter Cavers, Deborah Cohoe, wit-
nesses.
By license, Joseph Gable, of Stamford, to Susan Southand,
of Niagara. George Cheshale.*
29. By license, Nathanael Pozy to Melinda Stuart, both of
Niagara. Lewis Robinson and Mary Robinson, wit-
nesses.
By license, Thomas Neville, of the Township of Crow-
land, to Nancy Hesmell, of the Township of Stam-
ford. John Kamsdem and Peter Misner, witnesses.
*WitnessJ probably.
160 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1833.
Jan. 2. By license, Jacob Young to Susan Wiley, of the Township
of Crowland. John Misner and Crowell Wilson,
witnesses.
March 13. By license, John Wilson, of Gainsboro7, to M&rgarel
Wires, of Wainfleet. Joseph Hyslop and George Hi]
witnesses.
14. By license, Robert Gilchrist to Jane Collard, both of
Township of Stamford. Hiram Van Wike and Eliji
Collard, witnesses.
19. By license, Russell A. Wells to Anne Defields, both
Queenston. Edward Defields and William Defieldi
witnesses.
June 12. By license, Samuel Haux, of Toronto, to Lydia Hopkii
of the Township of Thorold. Samuel Smith iand Jj
Hopkins, witnesses.
Aug. 15. By publication, John Coulson to Charlotte Griffith, both
of the Township of Stamford. Thomas Coulson and
Elizabeth Coulson, witnesses.
20. By publication, William Smith to Catherine Anger, both
of the Township of Louth. Benjamin Noble and Ji
Hall, witnesses.
Sept. 26. By publication of banns, George Galloway to
Lucas, both of St. David's. Andrew Lucas and Samuel
Peterson, witnesses.
By license, John Thomson to Amelia McMicking, both of
the Township of Stamford. John McJvIicking and
Archibald Thomson, witnesses.
Oct. 22. By license, Rev. James Strong, of Dumfries, Zorra Dis-
trict, to Ann Sanderson, of Stamford. Thomas Hugo,
Sr., and Thomas Hugo, Jr., witnesses.
23. By license, John Row, of Stamford, to Mary Ann Fitch, of
Willoughby. William Davis, ST., and Henry Fitch,
witnesses.
Nov. 17. By publication, Thomas Daniel and Mary , both
of the Township of Stamford. David Walter and
John Coulson, witnesses.
19. By license, William Bank to Deborah St. John, both of the
Township of Thorold. Frederick Bank and James
Upper, witnesses.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 161
7. 27. By license, Kobert Wallace, junior, of Stamford, to Susan
Delila Mat—, of Thorold. Kobert Wallace, senior,
and John Watson, witnesses.
_ L834.
Jan. 23. Thomas McCredie, of Willoughby, to Nancy Wallace, of
Stamford. Robert Wallace, Sr., and William Mc-
Credie, witnesses.
30. By publication, Isaac Morris to,Lydia Miller, both of the
Township of Stamford. Thomas and Isaac Battemen,
witnesses.
Feb. 18. By publication, Robert Shrigley to Nancy W , both
of the Township of Pelham. George Shrigley and
Joseph Thorn, witnesses.
NOTE. — The Robert Grant, Esq., so frequently referred to, is buried in the
Lutheran graveyard near Thorold, as there recorded:
" Sacred to the memory of Robert Grant, Esq., born at Inverness, Scot-
land, 16th Nov., 1776, died at Queenston, U.C., 16th May, 1838. This monument
is erected by his daughter Christina, wife of Jacob Keefer, Esq., of Thorold."
v a
II. -COPY OF REGISTER OF BAPTISMS, MARRIAGES AND BURIALS,
1820 TO 1837, BY REV. WM. LEEMING.
NOTE. — The original register is kept by the Rector of Trinity Church,
Chippawa, from which register I have written this copy of records. February,
1893. Geo. A. Bull, M.A., Rector of Stamford.
BURIALS IN YE CHAPELRY OF CHIPPEWA,* IN YE TOWNSHIPS OF STAM-
FORD AND WILLOUGHBY, IN YE COUNTY OF LINCOLN AND DIS-
TRICT OF NIAGARA, IN YE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND
EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY.
1820.
Sarah Glasgow, Stamford, Sept. 8, aged 5 years.
Barak Dawn, Niagara Falls, Oct. 4, aged 1 month.
Henrietta Archange Smith, Chippewa, Oct. 5, aged 2 years.
— Warren, Waterloo, Dec. 10, aged 30 years.
*In the manuscript sometimes "Chippewa," sometimes "Chippawa." The
proper spelling is "Chippawa," but the manuscript is followed closely.
11
162
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1821.
Jane Gumming, Chippewa, Feb. 17, aged 66.
Margaret Stuart Lefferty, Lundy's Lane. March 1, aged 9 months.
James Marshman, Stamford, March 21, aged, supposed about 45 yeai
George Kohrback,* Stamford, May 31, aged 22 years.
John McDonald, Stamford, Oct. 12.
John Jay, Lundy's Lane, Stamford, Oct. 17, aged 73 years.
1822.
Huldy Cook, Lundy's Lane, Stamford, March 10, aged about 30 y(
K. Yale, Willoughby, April 19, aged 47 years.
Eev. William Sampson,t Grimsby, April 30, aged 34 years.
Mary Scott, Stamford, Aug. 11, aged 70 years.
John Anderson, from Seapatrick, County Down, Ireland, Aug. 13,
aged 25 years.
John Burch,J Stamford, Aug. 16, aged 38 years.
, — Shaw, St. David's, Sept. 5, aged 9 years.
- McClive, Stamford, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 8.
- Metlar, Thorold, Sept. 14, aged 30 or 80 ( ?).
James Clark, 15-Mile Creek, aged about 60.
- Hull, Lundy's Lane, Oct. 3.
Alexander McPherson, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 8, aged 68.
Diademia Jay, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 25.
1823.
— Forsyith, Falls of Niagara, Jan. 16, infant.
Sidney Secord Lampman, interred En. Church, Thorold, Feb.
aged 2 years.
Thomas Cummings,§ Chippewa, March 5, aged about 65 years.
Silvia Cook, Stamford, June 21, aged 17 years.
* The son of Lt.-Col. Andrew Rorback, of 2nd Lincoln Regiment, who was
born in New Jersey, died in 1843.
fThe first missionary of Grimsby, sent out by S. P. G. in 1817. His
records of births, deaths, marriages are printed in Vol. III. A native of
Surrey, England. His death was accidental.
$A son of the John Burch, whose was the first interment in Lundy's Lane,
in 1797.
§The first settler in Chippawa, coming in 1784; was Town Clerk, Justice
of the Peace, performed many marriages in that capacity, all beginning with
the words " Be it remembered." The books kept from 1796 by him and his
son James are models of neatness and methodical habits.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 163
Benjamin Hardison,* Bertie, July 28, aged about 70 years.
Mrs. Aiglor, Stamford, Aug. 18, aged about 70 years.
Widow Archibald Thompson, Stamford, Aug. 22.
Mrs. Warner, Thorold, Aug. 29, aged about 70 years.
- Buchner, Stamford, Sept. 4, aged 16 months.
Seth Cook, Crowland, Sept. 21, aged about 36 years.
Mrs. Warren, Bertie, Sept. 22, aged 83 years.
Infant daughter of Mr. Wait,t Falls of Niagara, Oct. 2, aged 2 weeks.
Infant daughter of Mr. Grysler^ Falls of Niagara, Oct. 5, aged 9 weeks.
Haggai Skinner, Falls, Stamford, Oct. 8, aged 73 years.
Charles Kogers, Stamford, Nov. 15, aged 2 weeks.
Eliza Ball, near St. David's, Dec. 5, aged 13 years.
Mrs. Shaw, St. David's, Dec. 8.
1824.
Mrs. Gordon, interred at St. Catharines, Stamford, Feb. 10, aged
33 years.
Mrs. Sutton, Stamford, Feb. 26, aged about 35 years.
Geo. Milmine McMicking,t Chippewa, April 1, infant.
William Warner Cummings, Chippewa, April 6, aged 1 year and 11
months.
Margaret Kerby, Head of Lake, interred at Chippewa, April 15, aged
22 years.
Infant daughter of W. Hebburne, Chippewa, July 13.
Caroline Thomas, Lundy's Lane, July 16, infant.
Mrs. Miller, Black Creek, Aug. 2.
Infant daughter of Isaac and Anna Thomas, Aug. 17.
Priscilla Cummings, Chippewa, Aug. 30.
John 'McKarlay, Stamford, Sept. 3, aged 24 years.
Christopher Buchner, Falls, Stamford, Sept. 9, -aged 57 years.
Patrick Wilson, Bertie, interred in Stamford, Oct. 23, aged about 35.
John Brown, Chippewa, from Birmingham, England, Nov. 11, aged
37 years.
Samuel WToodruff, surgeon, St. David's, Nov. 18.
*Benjamin Hardison, the member for 4th Lincoln and Norfolk, 1796-1800.
t Related to Benjamin Wait, banished to Van Dieman's Land for his share
in Rebellion 1838.
JThe mortality among infants seems remarkable to us at this day, as the
phrase infant daughter or infant son occurs so often.
164
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1825.
Thomas Dickson, Esq.,* Queenston, Jan. 26, aged 49 years.
Amy Silverthorn, Thorold, Jan. 27, aged 8 years.
William Goodman, Thorold, from England, Jan. 31, aged about 45
years.
Matthias Haun, Bertie, Feb. 4, .aged 58 years.
Patrick Blunt, Stamford, July 24.
Mrs. Stephen Haggarty, Stamford, Feb. 19, aged about 22 years.
Mr. Anderson, Stamford, April 19, aged 90 years.
John Metlar, Stamford, May 9, .aged 5 years.
Sally Grant (negress), St. David's, May 31.
Mrs. Hoover, Stamford, June 3, aged 74 1-2 years.
Mr. Gould, near St. Catharines, June 28, aged 65 years.
Margaret Muirhead,t Niagara, interred at Mr. Butler's private burial
place, July 9, aged 25 years.
Rebecca Shaver, Stamford, July 22, aged about 30 years.
Louisa Lee, Stamford, July 25, aged 2 years.
— Dodson, Falls, Stamford, from Winchester, Virginia, July 29, aged
about 55 years.
— Davis, Falls' Mills, Aug. 15.
— Stronger, Stamford, Aug. 17.
Mrs. Moore, St Catharines, Aug. 18, aged 47 years.
Mrs. Chisholm, Stamford, Aug. 21, aged 66 years.
Wellington Forsyth, Falls, Stamford, Aug. 24, aged 8 years.
Hugh Alexander Thompson,^ Whirlpool, Stamford, Aug. 25, aged 17
months.
Nelson Pew, Beechwood, Stamford, Aug. 25, aged 9 years.
Infant daughter of Samuel Pew, Beechwood, interred Lundy's Lant
Aug. 30, aged 6 months.
George Sutton, interred Lundy's Lane, Beechwood, Sept. 23, aged 5
years.
Rebecca Dawn, Thorold, Oct. 1, aged 18 months.
William Burnetsteen, Sept. 27.
Mr. Sowersby, Chippewa, Sept. 28.
* A large altar tomb in the Hamilton family burying ground at Queenstc
states that he came from Dumfries, Scotland, in 1789 ; was colonel of Milit
member of Legislature and a magistrate. He was also a merchant in
Queenston.
fA daughter of Dr. Muirhead and Deborah Butler. James Butler Muir-
head, barrister, is also buried in Butler's family burial place.
$In the Presbyterian graveyard, Stamford, in one enclosure are buried
eight Thompsons, all born at the Whirlpool, the eldest in 1819.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 165
William Maclem,* Chippawa, Oct. 17, aged 22 years.
Infant son of - - Johnson, Lundy's Lane, Oct. 20, aged 1 year.
Kobt. Davis, Stamford, Oct. 20.
Geo. Sowersby, Ghippawa, Nov. 23, aged 7 months.
Mrs. Fletcher, Thorold Canal, Nov. 30, aged 65 years.
Joseph Blackstock, Thorold Canal, Dec. 2, aged about 25 years.
1826.
Joseph Eice, Chippawa, Jan. 28.
Infant daughter of Dr. Bedale.f St. Catharines, Feb. 12, aged 14 months.
Infant daughter of — Moore, Stamford, Feb. 19.
Infant daughter of Mr. Tisdale, Ancaster, Feb. 26.
- McKinney, St. Catharines, :aged 8 years.
Thomas Huff, Chippawa, April 18, aged 11 months.
Mrs. Chase, St. Catharines, April 27, aged 21 years.
Minerva Johnson, Stamford, May 8, aged about 25 years.
- Hainer, St. Catharines, June 7, aged 15 years.
Geo. Rose, Stamford, June, aged 30 years.
Greo. England Leonard,t Stamford, July 9, aged 11 years.
Infant son of Philip Metlar, Stamford, July 10.
Marsh Raymond Otley, Stamford, July 15.
Wm. Silverthorn, Stamford, July 20, aged 3 years.
Samuel Layton, St. Catharines, Aug. 2, aged about 40 years.
Samuel Jackson, Thorold Canal, Aug. 16, aged 1 year.
John Hoover, Thorold, Aug. 19, aged 19 years.
Elizabeth Hoover, Thorold, Aug. 19, aged 63 years.
Augustavius Sikes, Thorold, Aug. 24, aged 19 years.
George Miller, Thorold, Sept. 30, aged 75 or 78 years.
Wm. Alexander Ball, Thorold, Oct. 19, infant.
Mrs. Hodgkinson, Niagara, Nov. 2, aged.
Price Christie, Niagara Falls, Dec. 2, aged.
Alexander Rapp, Stamford, Dec. 4, aged 3 years.
1827.
Mrs. Wright, Stamford, Jan. 10, aged 42 years.
John Upper, Stamford, Feb. 9, aged about 65 years.
*Macklem.
fBeedle.
JSon of Major Richard Leonard, of 104th Light Infantry, buried at
Lundy's Lane in 1833.
166 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Mr. Hoover, Stamford, Feb. 17, aged 80 or 90 years.
Mr. Bowman, Thorold, June 9, aged 90 years.
Keziah Stack, Stamford, July 20, .aged 3 years.
Kobt. Carr, Thorold, Aug. 8, aged 22 years.
James Brown, Thorold, Aug. 8, aged 22 years.
Geo. Crawford, Thorold, Aug. 20, aged 22 years.
Erastus Parsons, Chippawa, Sept. 3.
Maria McClive, Stamford, Sept. 15, aged 19 years.
Sophia Upper, Thorold, Oct. 1, iaged 1 1-2 years.
Mrs. Bl— , Falls, Oct. 2, aged 23 years.
Elizabeth Wurman, Thorold, Oct. 15, aged 1 year.
Infant son of Mr. Johnson, Stamford, Nov. 13, aged 2 years 3 months.
Infant son of — Ainsley, Chippawa, Nov. 12.
Mrs. Brackbill, Stamford, Dec. 13, aged 63 years.
1828.
Infant son of Mr. Marlatt, Beaverdam, Jan. 10, aged 1 year.
Philander Howard Keelar, St. John's, Jan. 12, aged 2 years.
Geo. Milmine, Chippawa, Jan. 14, 'aged 52 years.
Infant son of W. Forsyth, Falls, Jan. 20, aged 1 year.
Maria Ellison, Stamford, Feb. 8, aged 4 years.
Wm. Davenport, Stamford, Feb. 12, aged 4 months.
Philip Melancthon Keelar, St. John's, Feb. 19, aged 1 month.
Mrs. Ussher,* Willoughby, Feb. 29, aged 50 years.
Margaret Berryman, Sitamford, March 3, aged 9 months.
Infant son of P. Morse, Stamford, April 10, aged 7 months.
Sarah Bogers, Stamford, April 11, aged 6 years.
John Buchner, Stamford, April 16, aged 34 years.
Eemanilla Cusack, Stamford, May 10, .aged 2 years and 4 months.
- Culp, Stamford, May 11.
Francis McCrackan, Chippawa, May 19, aged IB years.
Michael Dian, Stamford, June 14, aged about 40 years.
Elizabeth Priscilla belles, Chippawa, June 16, aged 11 months.
• — Coady, Chippawa, July 14, aged 65 years.
Bridget Wallans, Thorold, July 19, aged 27 years.
Olivia Galbraith, Thorold, Lundy's Lane, July 26, aged 15 years.
James Boyle, from Canal, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 2, aged 40 years.
George Sheldenburg, Chippawa Creek, Aug. 8, aged 2 years.
* Probably the mother of Edgeworth Usher, assassinated at his own door
in Chippawa, Nov., 1838, during the Rebellion; was buried at Lundy's Lane.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 167
Andrew Brown, Niagara, Aug. 19, aged 27 years.
Andrew Morrow, Thorold, Aug. 23, aged 37 years.
Mrs. Nevil, Stafford, interred at Lundy's Lane, Sept. 2.
Mrs. Seburn, Stamford, interred at Beaverdam, Sept. 3, aged TO years.
Mrs. John Willson, Stamford, interred at Lundy's Lane, Sept. 3, aged
26 years.
Oliver Strong, Deepcut, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 11, aged 19 years.
Wm. Moright (Italian), Lundy's Lane, Sept. 17, aged 25 years.
Win. Tillot, Lundy's Lane, from England, Sept. 18, aged about 40
years.
Henry Brodock, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 23, aged 40 years.
Mr. Hoard, Falls, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 24, aged about 40 years.
Robert Pew, Stamford, Oct. 4, aged 44 years.
Catherine Booth, interred at St. Catharines, Oct. 7.
Ann Lynch, Chippawa, Oct. 13, aged 24 years.
Infant daughter of Haggai Skinner, Lundy's Lane, Oct. 16, aged 14
months, transmitted.
- Irvine, from Ireland, Lundy's Lane, Oct. 25, aged 37 years.
- Buck, Limestone Ridge, Nov. 2, aged 3 years.
Stephen Paine, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 21, aged 36 years.
Infant son of — Chambers, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 22, aged 1 year.
1829.
Charlotte Macklem, Lundy's Lane, Jan. 31, aged 10 years.
— Brisson.
M. S. Webber, Queenston, March 23, aged about 42 years.
Philip Host, Lundy's Lane, May 6, aged 67 years.
Stephen Lancaster (colored man), Lundy's Lane, May 18, age not
known.
Mary Smith, Stamford, April 14, aged 17 years.
Georgiana England Leonard, Lundy's Lane, May 25, aged 3 years.
Hayzen Jacobs, Chippawa, June 11, aged 15 years.
Joel Westbrook, Lundy's Lane, July 2, aged 78 years.
James Saunders, Beaverdam, July 30.
Robert Whitney, Queenston, Aug. 17, aged 10 months.
Wm. George, Beaverdam, Aug. 18, young man.
Mrs. Hansel, Beaverdam, Aug. 25, aged 76 years.
Nicholas Smith, Bridgewater,* Aug. 30, aged 30 years.
Margaret Elizabeth Nelles, Chippawa, Sept. 4, aged 7 weeks.
*The battle of Lundy's Lane is often spoken of in American histories as
Bridgewater.
168
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Wm. Lundy,* Lundy's Lane, Sept. 13, aged 88 years and 9 months.
Francis Morelle, St. David's, Nov. 8, aged 25 years.
Margaret Davies Cockroft, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 24, aged 3 days.
Thomas Cotton, Chippawa, Dec. 30, aged 68 years.
Wm. Moffatt, Lundy's Lane, drowned in Deepcut, Jan. 6.
1830.
— Marsh, Chippawa, Jan. 27.
John Hobson, St. David's, Feb. 7, aged 26 years.
Hitobelf Street, Falls, Feb. 12, aged 90 years.
Dr. Skinner, Stamford, Feb. 16, aged 86 years.
MJrs. Ball, 10-Mile Creek, Feb. 20, aged 70 years.
Daniel Shriner, Beaverdam, Feb. 24, aged 60 years.
John Sharp, Lundy's Lane, March 3, aged about 35 years.
Charles Dancer, Lundy's Lane, March 19, aged 48 years.
Mrs. Sebum, Stamford, interred ,at Beaverdam, May 17.
Garret Vanderburg, Thorold, June 22, aged 47 years.
John Hinch, Queenston, June 27, aged 18 years.
Mrs. Samuel Dill, Chippawa Creek, Aug. 15, aged 42 years.
— Jennings, Chippawa, Aug. 17, aged 21 years.
Infant son of Mr. Biggar, Stamford, Aug. 20.
Francis Oliver, from Canal to Lundy's Lane, Aug. 23, aged 30 years.
Infant son of — Mitchell, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 24.
Mary Haggarty, interred Lundy's Lane Aug. 26, aged 2 years.
— Mitchell, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 29, aged 24 years.
Thaddeus Davis, St. John's, Aug. 31, aged 56 years.
Joseph Huffman, Stamford, Sept. 7, aged 30 years.
Wilfrid Burns, interred at Beaverdam Sept. 12, infant.
Mary Ann Brown, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 14, aged 25 years.
James Mills, Deepcut, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 25, aged 85 years.
Matthias Kerns, Stamford, Oct. 25, aged 70 years.
Mrs. Ann Cook, Beaverdam, Nov. 2, aged 48 years.
Eichard Pedon, Chippawa, 'Nov. 24, aged 63 years.
Daughter of P. Metlar, Beaverdam, Nov. 30, aged 3 years.
James Boyle, Lundy's Lane, from Deepcut, Dec. 7, aged 8 years.
* From whom comes the name Lundy's Lane. Descendants still live near
the scene of the battle.
fProbably Mehitabel, the mother of Samuel Street, the wealthiest man in
the district
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 169
1831.
Mrs. Gouts, Deepcut, Jan. 5, aged about 30 years.
John Meiklehorn, Lundy's Lane, Jan. 25, .aged 85 years.
Infant daughter of — Squires, Beaver dam, Feb. 2.
- Hunt, Stamford, Feb. 6, aged 67 years.
Infant son of John Madden, St. David's, Feb. 6.
Mrs. Bailey, Niagara, Feb. 7.
Wm. Wrishun, Stamford, May 30.
James Coekroft, Lundy's Lane, July 27.
— Coglan, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 10.
John Dunn, Beaverdam, Sept 5, aged 45 years.
Strange woman, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 18.
Leonard Fawell, St. David's, Oct. 10, aged about 40 years.
Mrs. Fawell, St. David's, Oct. 14, aged about 40 years.
Morgan George, Falls, Dec. 7, aged 30 years.
- Leach, Chippawa, Dec. 26.
Wm. Kelsey, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 26, infant.
Infant son of Mr. Mead, Falls, Dec. 26.
1832.
- Ward. Stamford. Ian. 7, aged 2 years.
Mrs. John Thomas, Stamford, Jan. 9.
Dr. L. Cockroft, Lundy's Lane, Jan. 9, aged 39 years.
— Green, Niagara, Jan. 17.
Mrs. Thomas, Thorold, Jan. 22.
Jane Boyle, Gravelley Bay, interred at Lundy's Lane, Feb. 5, aged
12 years.
Child of Louis Smith, St. David's, March 4, aged 3 years.
Cynthia Jane Conklin, Bridgewater, March 21, infant.
Jonathan James Conklin, Bridgewater, March 23, aged 6 years.
Cynthia Conklin, Bridgewater, March 25, aged 12 years.
Walter Willson, Drummondville, March 31, aged about 30 years.
Jonathan Potter, Chippawa, April 1, .aged 21 years.
Geo. Shaw, St. David's, April 2.
— Smith, Chippawa, April 3, aged 13 years.
Infant son of Mr. Darby, St. David's, April 3.
Mary Smith, Bridgewater, April 4, aged 4 years.
— Mede, Falls, April 8.
— Chambers, Chippawa, April 10.
Edward Chrysler, Drummondville, April 11, aged 6 years.
170
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
— Hepburne, Chippawa, April 13, aged 4 years.
John Kitchie, Falls, April 20.
Enom Moses, Chippawa, May 7, aged 35 years.
Win. Stickles, Lundy's Lane, May 14, aged 23 years.
- Strickland, Chippawa, May 15.
David Fawkes, Drummondville, May 21.
Infant daughter of Wm. and Mary Garner, Drummondville, May 30.
- Vantassel, Drummondville, June 28.
Geo. Smith, Bridgewater, July 4, aged 2 years.
Infant daughter of John Shannon, Stamford, July 2.
John Garner, Drummondville, July 13, aged 6 years.
Elizabeth Colwell, Chippawa, Aug. 5, aged 70 years.
Eli Keeney, Drummondville, Aug. 7, aged 27 years.
Francis Galbraith, Aug. 7, aged 45 years.
Nancy Upper, Thorold, Aug. 9, aged 30 years.
Infant son of — Hudson, Drummondville, Aug. 9.
Crowell Wilson,, Crowland, Aug. 13, aged 70 years.
G. Jenkins, Drummondville, Aug. 15.
Infant son of - - Wright, Drummondville, Aug. 15.
Wm. Wright, Chippawa, Aug. 11, aged 1 year and 4 months.
Emigrant,* died at Chippawa of cholera, interred on the Point, Aug.
14.
Geo. Smith, died of cholera at Chippawa, Aug. 18, aged 16 years.
Mrs. Smith, died of cholera at Chippawa, Aug. 19.
Valancey Leonard, Drummond Hill, Aug. 20, aged 10 or 11 months.
- Cammel, Deepcut, Aug. 24, aged 11 years.
W. D. Wright, Falls, Aug. 24.
W. LEEMING^ Officiating Minister.
John Brooks, Falls, Aug. 27.
J. ANDEKSON, Off. Min.
— , Stamford, Sept. 3.
Eeuben Biggar, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 16.
- Moore, St. David's, Sept. 30, .aged 2 years.
*Feb. 14th, 1833, was a day of public thanksgiving after the visitation of
cholera. In a sermon given in St. Mark's Church, Niagara, mention was
thankfully made that only one of that congregation had suffered from the
dread disease.
fRev. Wm. Leeming was appointed missionary in 1820 by the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and became Rector of Trinity
Church, Chippawa. Born in 1787, died in 1863; was also the minister of
btamford.
EAKLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 171
Margaret Thomas, Lundy's Lane, Oct. 3, aged 22 months.
John Lamont, Chippawa, Sept. 9, aged 27 years.
Sergeant John Huff, Chippawa, Sept. 10, aged about 60 years.
John Rees, Stamford, Oct. 11, infant.
Abraham Chrysler, Lundy's Lane, Nov. 20, aged 11 years.
Lieut. John Stephenson,* Niagara, 'Nov. 21.
Infant son of Mr. Fairfield, Thorold, Dec. 21, ,aged 6 months.
Harry Woodruff, St. David's, Dec. 8, aged 3 years.
1833.
Jane Keefer, Thorold, Jan. 8, aged 47 years.
Georgiana Thorold Wellsted, Stamford, Feb. 7, aged 3 months.
Geo. Thorold Wellsted, Stamford, Feb. 19, aged 3 months.
Infant daughter of — Fortner, Thorold, interred at Lundy's Lane
Feb. 24.
Infant son of Joseph Clement, St. David's, March 9, aged 2 years.
- Donaldson, Lundy's Lane, April 8, aged 17 years.
- Graham, Lundy's Lane, April 8, aged 17 years.
Infant son of Thaddeus Conklin, Bridge water, April 14, aged
6 months.
Sarah Kidson, Stamford, May.
Son of John Clement, St. David's, June 12.
- Wilson, Chippawa, June 24.
Infant daughter of Wm. Aiglor, Stamford, July 15.
Infant son of A. Upper, Thorold, July 19, aged 18 months.
Infant daughter of Mr. - — , Thorold, July 19.
- Chase, St. David's, Aug. 13, aged 13 years.
- Wilson, Chippawa, Aug. 13.
Infant daughter of — Latshaw, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 22.
Admiral Joseph Kidson, Stamford, Aug. 19, infant.
Mary Smith, from Scotland, Stamford, Aug. 28, aged 26 years.
- Fuller, Dominionville, Sept. 1, infant.
John Thomas Reddet, Stamford, Sept. 2, infant.
Wm. Taylor, Grand Island, interred Lundy's Lane Sept. 2, aged 57
years.
Infant daughter of Samuel Pew, interred at Lundy's Lane Oct. 11,
aged 3 years. •
Wm. Beemon, Chippawa, Oct. 13, aged 3 years.
* Son-in-law of Rev. R. Addison, of Niagara, to whom he wrote after the
Battle of Chippawa, naming the wounded. (Stevenson properly.)
172 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
John Thomas, Stamford, Oct. 14, aged 80 years.
Thos. Anderson, Chippawa, Oct. 23, aged 8 years.
T. Fralick, Beaverdam, Oct. 25, aged 15 years.
W. LEEMING, Off. Min.
Kd. Leonard, Lundy's Lane, Nov. 3, aged 59 years.
J. ANDERSON, Off. ~M.i\
Kobert H. Dee, Stamford, Nov. 19, aged 46 years.
Lueinda Ball, German Church, Nov. 21, aged 3 years.
— r- Upper, son of Jno. Upper, scarlet fever, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 12,
aged 3 years.
1834.
Mary Slater, Drommondville, Jan. 25, aged 18 years.
Margaret Keefer, Thorold, Feb. 4, aged 3 years.
Christopher Birt, Stamford, Feb. 9, aged 89 years.
- Swan, St. David's, Feb. 11.
Martha Green, Stamford, Feb. 22, aged 57 years.
Infant daughter of James Thomas, Lundy's Lane.
Kd. Thomas Dixie, Stamford, April 6, aged 51 years.
Frances Dorothea Marsh, Stamford, April 24, infant.
Mrs. Hudson, Short-hills, May 6.
Eobt. Eandall,* Lundy's Lane, May 4.
Mrs. Brooks, Lundy's Lane, June 20.
John Slinger, infant, Clifton, Aug. 8.
Infant son of Daniel Jones, interred at the Falls, from Brockville,
Aug. 10.
Infant daughter of - - Frances, Chippawa, Aug. 14.
- Clark, Falls, Sept 2.
Infant son of Wm. Lampman, interred at Beaverdam Sept. 10.
- Glasgow, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 12, aged 25 years.
Infant son of E. Hall, Lundy's Lane, Sept. 17.
- Keddet, Stamford, Sept. 22, infant.
Captf Willson, K.N., Stamford, Oct. 15.
Thos. Whitemarsh, Chippawa, Nov. 7, aged 27 years.
John Smith Maclem, Chippawa, Nov. 23, aged 2 years.
* On the stone to his memory he is called " a victim to colonial misrule."
He had been an M.P.P. for some years and was delegate to England to have
abuses rectified.
fin the tablet in the graveyard he is called Commander Wilson, R.N.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 173
— Glinn, Grove, Dec. 18, aged 60 years.
Helen Kirkpatrick, Chippawa, Dec. 31, aged 8 years.
Peter Lampman,* German church, Dec. 28, aged 86 years.
1835.
Charlotte Cummings, Chippawa, Jan. 16.
- Conklin, Bridgewater, Jan. 19, aged 2 years.
W. LEEMING, Off. Min.
Jas. Braybrook, Lundy's Lane, Jan. 19, infant.
T. B. FULLER, Off. Min.
Jane Cockroft Kirkpatrick, Chippawa, Jan. 27, aged 1 year.
Infant son of A. Conklin, Bridgewater, Jan. 29.
Infant son of Erastus and Jemima Moses, Lundy's Lane, Feb. 5.
Samuel Street Maclem, Chippawa, Feb. 10, aged 4 years.
Elizabeth Macklehone, Lundy's Lane, Feb. 12.
David Clow, Stamford, March 100.
Win. Brown, from Coventry, England, interred at Lundy's Lane
April 3, aged 26 years.
• — Skinner, from Gravelley bay, Lundy's Lane, April 3, aged 21 years.
John Jacobs, Thorold, April 28, aged 90 years.
- King, Stanford, May 8.
W. LEEMING, Off. Min.
Chas. Brundage, Chippawa, May 12, aged 6 years.
THOS. B. FULLER, Off. Min.
Susan Hepburne, Chippawa.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
— Farrel, Chippawa, Oct. 8.
Thos. Clark, Falls, Oct. 10, aged 63 years.
John Clement, St. David's, Oct. 13.
Mary Teeter, German church, Oct. 19.
Major Ormsby, Chippawa, Oct. 21.
Eliza Tyrrel, Lundy's Lane, Nov. 9, aged 28 years.
Wm. Thorne, Stamford, Dec. 18.
*One of the earliest settlers near Thorold. Came from New York in 1783.
His tombstone in the graveyard of the old Lutheran Church describes him as
" a pious, faithful member of the German Lutheran Church." He resided fifty
years in the Township of Niagara.
174 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Win. Chadwell, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 19, aged 63 years.
Mrs. Willson, Stamford, Dec. 31.
1836.
Ward Vanderburg, Allanburgh, Jan. 29, aged 23 years.
Norman Ensign, Lundy's Lane, Feb. 1.
Charles McCrea, Thorold, March 6, infant.
Luke Carrol, Thorold, March 15, aged 65 years.
Infant son of Cornelius and Keziah Foster, Lundy's Lane, March 2<
Mary Ann Jennings, Chippawa, June 28, aged 15 months.
— Wilkinson, interred Beaverdam July 4, aged 25 years.
Mrs. B. Fralick, Beaverdam, July 14. ,
- Thorn, Stamford, Aug. 7, aged 7 years.
— Ness, Stamford, Aug. 7.
Eliza Russel, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 7, aged 5 months.
Harmanus Fletcher, Chippawa, Sept. 22, infant.
— Tyson, Stamford, Sept. 23, infant.
Infant twins of Philander Rump and Phoebe, his wife, Allanbur^
Oct. 11.
- McCree, Thorold, Oct. 13.
Mrs. Woodruff, St. David's, Oct. 17.
— Ellice, Lundy's Lane, Oict. 22.
Trevor Murray, Port Colborne, Oct. 24, aged 40 years.
Mr. Woodruff, St. David's, Dec. 1.
Dan Moses, Lundy's Lane, Dec. 19, infant.
Mary Keefer, Thorold, Dec. 21, infant.
1837.
Infant son of John Keelar, St. John's Jan. 20.
Mrs. Abel, St. David's, Jan. 28.
John Pulley, Lundy's Lane, Feb. 1, aged 60 years.
Interred, a son of Stephen Conklin and Jane, his wife, Chippawa,
Jan. 5.
Infant son of Jas. Nevils and - — , his wife, Thorold, Jan. 7.
Mary Margaret Clark,* Chippawa, March 7, aged 45 years.
Infant daughter of John and Mary Lampman, Thorold, March 16.
* Wife of Hon. Thos. Clark and daughter of Robert Kerr, surgeon, and
thus granddaughter of Sir Wm. Johnson and Molly Brant. Hon. Thomas
Clark, M.P.P., a native of Dumfries, Scotland, for twenty years a member of
Legislative Council; in partnership with Street; we often see the phrase
"Clark's Mills."
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 175
- Anderson, Chippawa, March 28, aged 7 years.
- Waring, German church May 7.
Andrew Goodwander (?), Chippawa, May 19, aged 34 years.
- Amm, Chippawa, May 24, aged 20 years.
Margaret McDonald, Lundy's Lane, May 31, aged 5 years.
Thomas Reaveley, Chippawa Creek, July 6.
Lucy Jeffreys, Lundy's Lane, July 30, infant.
Henry Jenkins, from Buffalo, Aug. 5, aged 18 years.
Eliza Paine, Chippawa, Aug. 7, aged 18 months.
John Green, Lundy's Lane, Aug. 24, aged 19 years.
Mary Spence, Dominionville, Aug. 26, aged 20 years.
— , Chippawa, Sept. 6, infant.
- Cleveland, Thorold, Sept. 8.
Elizabeth Mary Sawbridge, Falls, Sept. 8.
David Newton, Thorold, Sept. 12, aged 30 years.
Harriet Julia Hickman (colored), Chippawa, Sept. 15, infant.
Sarah Harriet Duff, Chippawa, Sept. 25, aged 4 years.
W. LEEMING, Off. Min.
NOTE. — The foregoing pages of burial are copied from an old, worn-out
register (written by Rev. Wm. Leeming, from 1820 to 1837), as correctly as
possible, by Geo. A. Bull, M.A., Rector of Stamford, Feb. 28th, 1892.
BAPTISMS SOLEMNIZED IN YE CHAPELEY OF CHIPPAWA, IN YE TOWN-
SHIPS OF STAMFOED AND WILLOUGHBY, IN YE COUNTY OF LIN-
COLN AND DlSTEICT OF NlAGAEA, IN YE YEAE OF OlJE LOED ONE
THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDEED AND SEVENTY.
1820.
Aug. 31. James Henry, son James* and Priscilla Cummings,
Chippawa, merchant.
Mary, dau. James and -- Coady, Chippawa, cooper.
Sept. 14. William Lampman, son James and Hannah Aiglor, Stam-
ford, farmer.
Oct. 3. Barak, son Thomas and -- Dawn, Falls of Niagara, miller.
1821.
Jan. 18. Marjr Ann Jane, dau. William and Mary Smith, Chippawa,
merchant.
* James Cummings, born, 1789 ; died, 1878 ; a merchant, millowner, etc. ; one
of the earliest settlers in Chippawa.
176
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Jan.
Feb.
May
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Dec.
18. Louisa Lavinia, dau. Jacob and Mary Smith, of Detroit.
(bap. at Chippawa), Indian Interpreter.
18. Carrol Samuel, son - - Evans, Bridgewater, shoemaker.
Catherine Elizabeth, dau. - - Stull, Stamford, farmer.
27. Margaret Stuart, dau. John and Mary Lefferty, Lundy's
Lane, surgeon.
7. John, son James and Jane Ruthven, Stamford, hatter.
Adam Bowman, son James and Jane Ruthven, Stamford,
hatter.
Elizabeth, dau. Adam and Mary Bowman, Stamford,
farmer.
Alexander, son Archibald and Mary McArthur, Stamford,
labourer.
Lucine, dau. Peter and Christine Kelly.
20. John Warren, son John and Mary Waddel.
22. Sidney Secord, son John and Mary Lampman, farmer.
12. David, son Benjamin and Jane Hardison, Fort Erie,
farmer.
Jane, dau. Isaac .and Magdalen Johnson, Fort Erie, farmer.
Mary, dau. Nicholas and Catherine Near, Fort Erie,
farmer.
Barbara, dau. Jacob and Margaret Near, Fort Erie,
farmer.
23. Catherine, dau. Henry and Anna Teal, Bertie, farmer.
Lydia, dau. Henry and Anna Teal, Bertie, farmer.
Eliza Jane, dau. Conrad and Charity Johnson, Bertit
farmer.
Jehoiakim, son Conrad and Charity Johnson, Bertie,
farmer.
10. John, son Malcolm and Janet Morrison.
— , son — McKellar, Stamford, immigrant laborer.
Duncan, son John and Isabel Smith McDonald, Stamford,
immigrant labourer.
21. Eobt. Carr Addison, son Edward Robert and There
Nichol, Stamford, gentleman.
30. Thomas Coulton,* son George and Jane Keefer, merchant.
fn * ; £?e f' C>E" c-M-G-> of Ottawa, the son of George Keefer, the
rounder of Thorold. George Keefer came to Canada in 1790; was the first
President of the Welland Canal Company, and of many societies. His tomb
"^"Ptt0118 ^ his four wives. He was born in New Jersey, 1773; died,
There were ten sons and four daughters.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 177
1822.
Jan. 13. William, son Mary Stickles, Stamford.
Timothy, son Mary Stickles, Stamford.
Matilda (Foster), adult, Stamford.
Baptized at Waterloo.
20. Eliza Ann, dau. Benjamin Prescott and Bridget Hall,
Willoughby, surgeon.
Cyrenius, son Benjamin Prescott and Bridget Hall, Wil-
loughby, surgeon.
Wm. Henry, son Benjamin Prescott and Bridget Hall,
Willoughby, surgeon.
Eobt. Prescott, son Benjamin Prescott and Bridget Hall,
Willoughby, surgeon.
Maria Vrooman, Willoughby.
Joseph, son Henry and Eve Near, farmer.
William, son Henry and Eve Near.
Peter, son Peter and Elizabeth Near, farmer.
Leo, son Peter and Elizabeth Near, farmer.
John, son John and Betsie Near, farmer.
Lydia, dau. John and Betsie Near, farmer.
Alexander, son Capt. Donald Chas. and Arm McLean,
Waterloo.
Feb. 3. William, son Nicholas and Oath. Michael, Humberstone,
farmer. At Fort Erie.
Baptized at Fort Erie.
Mary, dau. Henry and Betsie Near, Ancaster Township,
farmer.
Joseph, son Joseph and Christiana Shewet, Dumfries,
farmer.
Jacob, son John and Mary McKoy, Humberstone, farmer.
Juliana, dau. Wm. and Christina Carter, Bertie, farmer.
Wm. Henry, son Wm. and Christina Carter, Bertie, farmer.
Sophia Caroline, dau. Wm. and Christina Carter, Bertie,
farmer.
Anna Margaret, dau. Wm. and Christina Carter, Bertie,
farmer.
Margaret Ezilphy, dau. Thomas and Mary Ashley, Wil-
loughby, farmer.
12
178 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Feb. 3. John Millmine, son John and Eachel Huff, Chippawa,
Sergeant 68th Kegt. foot.
\r\n Mary, dau. John and Eachel Huff, Cihippawa, Ser-
geant 68th Regt. foot.
Elizabeth, dau. John and Eachel Huff, Chippawa, Ser-
geant 68th Regt. foot
Martha Jane, dau. Michael and Esther Pearson, Chippawa.
John, son Leo and Maragaret Steinhoff, Chippawa.
William, son Leo and Margaret Steinhoff, Chippawa.
Baptized at Waterloo.
17. Betsy, dau. Zecharias and Anna Teal, Bertie, farmer.
Charity, dau. Zecharias and Anna Teal, Bertie, farmer.
Henry, son Zecharias and Anna Teal, Bertie, farmer.
James, son James and Amelia Jackson, at ye Grand River
Station, Lieut, in British Navy.
March 31. Henrietta Amelia, dau. Wm. and Mary Smith, Bertie,
merchant.
April 28. Sophia Regina, dau. Edmund and Elizabeth Sophia
Riselay, Bertie, farmer.
May 5. Margaret Jane, dau. Daniel Stewart and Anne Maria
Grenville, Thorold, farmer.
15. Robert Land, son Braithwaite and Phoebe Leeming, Gli
ford, farmer.
June 30. Mary Ann Margaret, dau. Jacob H. and Catherine Bi
farmer.
Aug. 11. Wm. Warner, son James and Priscilla Cummings,
Chippawa-Willoughby, Esquire.
Sept. 15. Jas. Robt. Nichol, son James and Jane Kerby, Fort Eri<
Esquire.
George, son Wm. and Christine Cregar, Bertie, farmer.
29. James Maclem, son Andrew Todd and Margaret Kii
Canboro', bap. at Chippawa.
Oct. 6. Walter Henry, son Henry Clement and Mary Ball,
Thorold, farmer, bap. at German church.*
John and Christine (twins), son and dau. Philip and
Catherine Metlar, born April 11, bap. at German
church.
13. Robert, son George and Elijah McKie, Niagara Falls.
*Sometimes called German Church, sometimes Lutheran Church, in one
case, Eng. Church ; built in 1795 ; the prime mover, George Reefer.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 179
23. Charlotte Fitzgerald, dau. Col. Kichard and Frances
Leonard, Drummond Hill.
Nov. IT. Archibald, son Peter and Agnes Ann Lampman, Town-
ship of Niagara, bap. at German church, Thorold.
1823.
Jan. 22. Alexander Merrill, son John and Hannah Shannon, Stam-
ford.
Feb. 2. Christine, dau. Benjamin and Elizabeth Taylor, Humber-
stone, farmer, bap. at Fort Erie.
Nancy, dau. Geo. and Catherine Huffman, Humberstone,
farmer.
Catherine, dau. Henry and Eve Near, Humberstone,
farmer, bap. at Fort Erie.
Catherine, dau. John and Eliz. Near, Humberstone,
farmer, bap. at Fort Erie.
4. Agnes, dau. George and Eliza Gillies, bap. at Niagara
Falls.
14:. Rebecca, dau. T. and Elizabeth Casey, Township Walpole,
London District, bap. in Stamford.
Mary, dau. T. and Elizabeth Casey, Township Walpole,
London District, bap. in Stamford.
Martha, dau. T. and Elizabeth Casey, Township Walpole,
London District, bap. in Stamford.
23. James Henry, son Samuel and Elizabeth Darragh, Town-
ship Wainfleet, bap. at German church, Thorold.
James Cummings, son Wm. Nelles and his wife, Grand
River, bap. at Chippawa.
March 2. Andrew, son Peter and Deborah Miller, Bertie, farmer,
bap. at Waterloo.
June 8. Susan, dau. Benjamin and Jane Hardison, in Bertie.
15. John Hutt, son Jacob J. and Catharine Ball, Grantham,
bap. at German church, Thorold.
JameSj son Elias and Ann Mary Durham, Grantham, bap.
at German church, Thorold.
July 20. Lauretta, dau. Thomas and Mary Ashley, bap. at Waterloo.
Aug. 3. Mary (Johnson), adult, bap. at Waterloo church.
William, son Peter and Mary Johnson, Bertie, bap. at
Waterloo.
10. Samuel, son Jacob and Margaret Stall, Grantham, bap.
at German church.
180 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Nov. 14. Charles Rogers, son J. L. - - and - - Rogers, Si
ford, bap. at Chippawa church.
Dec. 28. Julia Ann, dan. Paul and Nancy Sowersby, bap. at
man church, Thorold.
1824.
Feb. 22. Charles Henry, son George and Jane Keefer.
April 1. George Millmine, son Gilbert L. and — McMickii
Chippawa, bap. at Chippawa.
4. John Wartman, son John and Mary Lampman, Granthi
bap. at German church.
7. Thomas Wright, son Robert* and Theresa Nkhol, Si
ford, bap. at Stamford.
18. John, son Andrew Todd and Margaret Kerby, bap.
Chippawa.
May 16. Adam Spencer, son Nathaniel and Sarah Wilson, Si
ford, bap. at German church.
30. Frederic Ferdinand, son Jacob and Catherine Ball, Gi
tham, bap. at German church.
July 4. Mary Howit, dau. Robert <and Margaretf Kirkpatrick,
Chippawa, bap. at Chippawa.
Eliza Jane, dau. Robert and Susan Akins, Bertie, bap.
Waterloo.
Wm. Henry Bowden, son John and Charlotte Warrei
Bertie, bap. at Waterloo church.
25. Jane, dau. John and Phebe Cole, Thorold, bap. at
man church.
Mary Ann, dau. Henry Clement and Mary Ball, Thorol
bap. at German church.
Aug. 8. Amelia Lavinia, dau. Frederick .and Mary Hutt, Si
ford, bap. at German church.
25. Robert, son James and Priscilla Cummings, Chippawi
bap. at Chippawa.
Oct. 3. Mary Ann, dau. William and Frances Riley, Thorold,
bap. at German church.
Vilette, dau. William and. Frances Riley, Thorold, bap. at
German church.
*Col. Robert Niohol, M.P.P. for Norfolk for many years; fought at
Detroit; rewarded with a gold medal by ihe Duke of York for gallant conduct;
was killed from falling over Queenston Heights on a dark night when driving
from Niagara, May, 1824.
fMrs. Kirkpatrick, ne'e Stevenson, the last living grandchild of Rev. R.
Addison ; died, June 24th, 1906 ; was buried in Niagara.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 181
rt. 31. Sarah Evanson, dau. Col. BicHrd and Frances Leonard,
Stamford.
Nov. 2. William Henry, son James and Amelia Jackson, Fort
Erie, bap. at Fort Erie.
28. Elizabeth, dau. Peter and Agnes Ann Lampman, of ye
Township of Niagara, bap. at German church.
WM. LEEMING, Officiating Minister, Chippawa.
1825.
Tan. 20. Harriet Ann, dau. David and Phebe Grass, Grantham,
bap. in Grantham.
April 3. Margaret, dau. John and Mary Lee, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
EOET. SHORT, Off.
March 27. Gerald England, son Thomas and Sophia Fitzgerald,
Bertie, bap. in Bertie.
John Edmund, son William and Christiana Carter, Bertie,
bap. in Bertie.
William, son, Abraham and Mary Wintermute, Bertie, bap.
in Bertie.
Catherine Mary, dau. Abraham and Mary Wintermute, of
Bertie, bap. in Bertie.
Abraham, adult son of Abraham and Mary Wintermute,
of Bertie, bap. in Bertie.
Christiana, dau. John and Charlotte Harp, of Bertie, bap.
in Bertie.
Gerald, adult son of James and Abigail Bailey, of Bertie,
bap. in Bertie.
William, adult son of Henry and Hannah Putman, of
Bertie, bap. in Bertie.
April 3. (See second name in 1825.)
8. Jane, dau. Hugh and Martha Collum, of Thorold, from
Ireland, bap. in Stamford.
18. Mary Elizabeth, dau. William and Hannah Aiglor, Stam-
ford, bap. in Stamford.
John, son William and Hannah Aiglor, Stamford, bap. in
Stamford.
May 22. Eachel Penel, dau. John and Eachel Huff, Chippawa,
bap. in Chippawa.
Thomas, son Sergt. John and Kaehel Huff, Chippawa,
bap. in Chippawa.
182
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
May 29. Caroline Sophia, dau. Valentine and Margaret Ward,
Thorold, bap. at ye German church.
June 26. John Henry, son Henry and Hannah Pawling, St. Cath-
arines, bap. at St. Catharines.
July 31. Mary, dau. John and — Rogers, Stamford.
Aug. 23. Walter, son James and Janet Thompson, Stamford, bap.
in Stamford.
Hugh Alexander, son James and Janet Thompson, Whirl
pool, Stamford, bap. in Stamford.
Sept. 4. Caroline, dau. Samuel and Abigail H. Street, Falls Mill
bap. at Chippawa church.*
John Crysler, son Samuel and Abigail H. Street, Eal
Mills, bap. at Chippawa church.
Jane Cementhe, dau. Samuel and Abigail H. Street, FJ
Mills, bap. iat Chippawa church.
12. William, son William and Jane Blain, bap. at Queensl
Eliza, dau. John and Sarah McGowan, bap. at Queenston.
19. Mary Ann, dau. Alexander and Esther MeKabe, Thorol
bap. at Stamford.
15. Martha, dau. John and Elizabeth O'Brien, Thorold, bap.
in Stamford.
Caroline Elizabeth, dau. John and Elizabeth O'Brien,
Thorold, bap. in Stamford.
27. William Burnetstein, son William Burnetstein, bap.
Grantham.
Nov. 3. Margaret Ann, dau. Adam and Mary Stall, Esquesii
bap. at Mr. Lampman's, Niagara.
6. Mary, dau. John and Margaret Ryan, Thorold, bap.
Chippawa.
Thomas, son George and Mary Reid, St. Catharines, ba]
at St. Catharines.
13. Wm., son John and Mary Latimer, Stamford, bap. al
Chippawa.
Francis, son John and Mary Latimer, Stamford, bap. at
Chippawa.
30. Andrew, son James and Louisa Morrow, Thorold, bap. at
Thorold.
James, son James and Mary Kerr, Thorold, bap. at
Thorold.
*Trinity Church, built, it is supposed, in 1825 ; burned down in 1839 ; re-
built in 1841.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC.
183
1826.
Jan. 1. Alexander, son George and Jane Keefer, Thorold, bap. at
German church, Thorold.
Peter, son Thomas and Ann McBride, Township of
Thorold, bap. at German church, Thorold.
Elizabeth, dau. Thomas and Ann McBride, Township of
Thorold, bap. at German church, Thorold.
22. Agnes, dau. David and Nancy Agnes McKaye, Thorold
Canal, bap. at Chippawa.
Margaret, dau. Samuel and Eachel Cams, Thorold Canal,
bap. at Chippawa.
James, son John and Margaret Haun, Willoughby, bap. at
German church, Thorold.
Feb. 13. Sarah Ann, dau. Stewart and Miary Thompson, Thorold
Canal, bap. at Stamford.
16. Sarah Jane, dau. George and Jane Jameson, Thorold
Canal, bap. at Stamford.
27. Mrs. Tisdale and her three children, by me, bap. at
Ancaster.
28. David, son Jacob and Charity Smith, bap. in Glanford.
Henry, son Jacob and Charity Smith, bap. in Glanford.
April 8. Martha Raymond, dau. Benjamin and Mrs. — Otley,
Stamford, bap. privately in Stamford.
Maria, no names, bap. at Chippawa.
June — . Mary, dau. John and Mary Lampman, bap. at German
church.
7. Margaret, dau. Eobt. and Margaret Kirkpatrick, bap. at
Chippawa.
July 12. Elizabeth, dau. Hugh and Martha Collum, bap. at Stam-
ford.
Eliza, dau. John and Mary Little, Thorold, bap. at Stam-
ford.
17. John, son Thomas and Isabella Ostfield, Thorold, bap, at
Thorold.
23. Isabella, dau. John and Margaret Lee, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
30. John, son James and Eliza Gambel, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
Mary, dau. Wm. and Mary Hamilton, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
184 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Aug. 13. Thomas, son Thomas and Mary Johnston, Thorold, bap.
at Chippawa.
John, son John and Jane Pile, Thorold, bap. at Chippawa.
Thomas, son John and Bridget McGee, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
Maria, dan. James and Mary Symes, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
Mary Jane, diau. James and Elizabeth Armstrong, Thorolc
\ bap. at Chippawa.
Georgiana England, dan. Richard and Frances Leom
Stamford, bap. at Chippawa.
20. Jacob Augustus, son Jacob H. and Catharine Ball,
tham, bap. at German church.
Sept. 7. Mary, dau. Wm. and Bridget Wallans, Thorold, bap.
Thorold.
24. Lonsdale Maving, son Doctor Lonsdale L. and
Cockroft, bap. at Chippawa.
Eliza, dau. Thomas and Jane Bennet, Thorold, bap.
Chippawa.
Oct. 15. Wm. Alexander, son Henry and Mary Ball, bap. at
man church.
Margaret Elizabeth, dau. James and Mary Carr, bap.
German church.
Nov. 5. Nathaniel, son Peter and Nancy Upper, Thorold, bap.
Mr. Upper's,
i Catherine Jane, dau. Peter and Nancy Upper, Thorold, baj
at Thorold.
Mary, dau. Peter and Nancy Upper, Thorold, bap.
Thorold.
John, son Wm. and Anna Garner, Stamford, bap. a1
Thorold.
;, ' 29. Ellinor, dau. Wm. and Anna Colby, Wainfleet, bap.
i • , Stamford.
}i, Charity Anna, dau. Wm. and Anna Colby, Wainfleet, ba]
at Stamford.
William, son Wm. and Anna Colby, Wainfleet, bap. at
Stamford.
John William, son Wm. and Anna Colby, Wainfleet, bap.
at Stamford.
:
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 158
1827.
an. 7. James, son John and Elizabeth Tate, Thorold, bap. at
Chippawa.
11. Margaret, dau. John and Frances Kaynes, Thorold, bap.
at Thorold.
March 4. John, son, Thomas and Margaret Coutratt,* Grantham,
bap. at German church.
11. Eliza Ann Jay (adult), bap. at Chippawa.
:pril 29. Ann Jane, dau. Hugh and Eliza McCutcheon, Thorold,
bap. at Chippawa.
May 1. William Stephen, son James and Margaret Tinlin, Louth,
bap. at Louth.
13. Joseph, son Peter and Agnes Lampman, bap at German
church.
June 10. John, son John and Phebe Cole, bap. at German church.
28. John, son Peter and Keziah Slack, Wainfleet, bap. at
Stamford.
Keziah, dau. Peter and Keziah Slack, Wainfleet, bap. at
Stamford.
Peter, son Peter and Keziah Slack, Wainfleet, bap. at
Stamford.
Nelson and Robert, sons Isaac and Anna Chambers, Stam-
ford, bap. at Stamford.
July 22. Margaret, dau. Edgar and Rachel Berryman, bap. at
Stamford.
Aug. 6. William, son Edward and Allivia Eletcher, bap. at
Thorold.
James, son John and Mary Little, bap. at Thorold.
7. Margaret, dau. James and Eebecca Allen, bap. at Thorold.
26. Elizabeth Priscilla, dau. John and Rachel Elizabeth ISFelles,
bap. at Chippawa.
Sept. 2. Thomas Francis, SOL Henry and Miary Ball, bap. at Ger-
man church.
12. Susanna, dau. Sergeant John and Rachel Huff, Chippawa,
bap. at Chippawa.
23. Robert, son Robert and Catherine Wilson, Deep cut, bap.
at Stamford. ,
*In some places the writing is so small and in others so indistinct that
a few of the names may be printed incorrectly, but great care has been taken
to give the spelling as in the manuscript.
186
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Sept. 30. Margaret, dan. James and Mary Darragh, Deep cut, bap.
at Stamford.
Oct. 8. Jonathan James, son Abraham and Jane Concklin, bap.
at Mrs. Smith's, Stamford.
21. James Thomas, son James and Margaret Scott, bap. at
St. Catharines, private.
28. Mary Jane, dan. John and Mary Lee, Thorold, bap. at
Stamford.
Nov. 10. Arthur Wellington, son John and Ann Gordon, bap. at
Thorold.
Mary Maria, dau. John and Ann Gordon, bap. at Thorold.
Charles, son James and Louisa Morrow, bap. at Thorold.
Mary Ann, dau. James and Mary Reid, bap. at Thorold.
John Whiteside, son Robt. and Elizabeth Fletcther, bap. at
Thorold.
Robert, son Robt. and Mary Patterson, bap. at Thorold.
Margaret, dau. James and Mary Kerr, bap. at Thorold.
Jane, dau. Alexander and Esther McCabe, bap. at Thorold.
Robert, son Robt. and Nancy Carr, widow, bap. at Thorold.
Dec. 23. George, son John and Mary Latimer, Stamford.
26. Willoby,* son Wm. and Mary Hamilton, Thorold, bap. at
Stamford.
1828.
Jan. 30. Hannah, dau. Samuel and Rachel Cams, bap. at Stamford.
Feb. 7. Francis, son Joseph and Ann Lundy, Thorold, bap. at
Thorold.
John, son Joseph and Ann Lundy, Deep cut, bap. at
Thorold.
William, son John and Susan McLean, Thorold, bap. at
Thorold.
10. Martha Stevens, dau. Jas. William and Maria Glenny,
Thorold, bap. at Thorold.
William, son Samuel and — Davenport, Stamford, bap.
at Stamford.
15. George, son George and Jane Jamieson, Deep cut, Thorold,
bap. at Thorold.
Robert, son Robt and Martha McKee, Thorold, bap. at
Thorold.
*Willougliby ?— G. A. B.
EAKLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 187
Feb. 15. Sarah Ann, dau. John and Margaret Walker, Deep cut,
bap. at Thorold.
21. William, son William and Ann Birch, bap. privately in
Stamford.
22. Margaret, dau. Margaret Smith, Stamford, bap. at Major
Leonard's.
March 2. Caroline Rebecca, dau. Henry and Margaret Hoover,
Thorold, bap. at Thorold.
16. Margaret Rebecca, dau. James and Jane Milligan, Thorold,
bap. at German church.
23. Robt. Alexander, son Francis and Susan Galbraith, bap.
at Thorold.
April 10. Catherine Margaret, dau. John and Mary Lampman, bap.
at Mr. Lampman's, sen'r.
13. Carolina, dau. James and Elizabeth Landers, bap. at Ger-
man church.
May 4. Susanna, dau. George and Mary Reid, bap. at St.
Catharines.
Eliza, dau. John and Mary Gibson, bap. at St. Catharines.
11. James Skinner, son Nancy Skinner, bap. at the Falls.
June 22. John, son John and Ellinor McGuire, Thorold, bap. at
Thorold.
Maria, dau. James and Mary Simms, bap. at Thorold.
Letitia, dau. James and Mary Simms, bap. at Thorold.
29. Francis, son John and Bridget McGee, bap. at Stamford.
George, son Richard and Jane Hanna, Thorold, bap. at
Stamford.
July 10. William, son William and Bridget Wallans, Thorold, bap.
at Thorold.
13. Frances, dau. Charles* and Ann Rolls, St. Catharines,
bap. at St. Catharines.
WM. LEEMII^G, Off. Min.
•
Ann Jane, dau. John and Isabella Walker, Thorold, born
24th June, bap. at Chippawa.
THOMAS CREEN, Off. Min.
22. John Marcus, son Andrew and Matilda Brown, Thorold,
(bap. in Thorold), born 13th June, 1827.
* Charles Rolls, born in England, 1785, died in 1867; was the father of
Henry Rolls, M.D., 1814-1887.
188 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Aug. 1. William, son James and Elizabeth Gamble, bap. in
Thorold.
Mary Ann, dau. James and Ann Trotter, bap. in Thorold,
Deep out.
Ann, dau. John and Ellen Blevins, Thorold, bap. in Deep
cut.
Mary Jane, dau. Alexander and Jane Allen, Thorold, bap.
in Deep cut.
James, son James and Sarah Dohar, Thorold, bap. in
Deep cut.
Samuel, son Robt. and Matilda McKee, Thorold, bap. in
Deep out.
John, son John and Mary Meynes, Thorold, bap. in Deep
cut*
26. John, son John and Sarah Lee, Thorold, bap. in Deep cut.
William, son Robt. and Ann Boyle, bap. in Deep cut.
Catherine, dau. Wm. and Sarah Scot, Thorold, bap. in
Deep cut.
31. Mary Jane, dau. Peter and Deborah Miller, Bertie, bap.
in Waterloo church.
Sept. 13. Thomas, son Robt. and Sarah Brown, bap. in Deep cut,
Thorold.
Esther, dau. Georga and Jane Sides, bap. at Deep cut.
Oct. Y. Jane, dau. William and Elizabeth Hand, Deep cut, bap.
at St. Catharines.
18. Luke, son Herman and Catherine Hosteder, bap. at
Thorold, near Beaverdam.
John, son John and Margaret Major, bap. at Chippawa.
26. Hannah, dau. Robt. and Betsie Irvine, bap. at Chippawa.
Nov. 2. Mary, dau. Joseph and Mary Smith, bap. at Chippawa.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark, sponsors.
21. Stewart, son Thomas and Jane Brown, Deep cut, bap. at
Deep cut.
Martha, dau. William and Elizabeth Davis, Deep cut, bap.
at Deep cut.
30. Elizabeth, dau. Samuelt and Abigail Street, Falls' Mills,
bap. at Chippawa. Tom Street, Hannah Maclem and
Harriet Ransom, sponsors.
*This surely does not mean by immersion, as we find at Deep Cut, at ye
Deep Cut, as well as in Deep Cut.
fSamuel Street, the wealthy merchant and mill-owner; his name is found
in many different capacities; born in Connecticut, 1775; died, 1844.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 189
1829.
Tan. 25. Thomas, son James and Janet Smith, bap. .at Stamford
church.*
Eliza Ann, dan. John and Sarah Green, bap. at Stamford
church.
Feb. 8. Kobt. Henry, son Edgar and Kachel Barryman, bap. at
Stamford church.
March 30. Sarah, dau. George and Ann Graham, Thorold, bap. at
Lundy's Lane.
ipril 5. Sophia Louisa, dau. John and Mary Garden, bap. at Stam-
ford.
Mary Caroline, dau. John and Mary Garden, bap. at
Stamford.
26. Charles Maitland, son Richard and Frances Leonard, bap.
at Chippawa.
Sept. 1. Margaret Elizabeth, dau. John and Kachel Nelles, bap. at
Chippawa.
12. Jane, dau. James and Louisa Morrow, Thorold, bap. at ye
Deep cut.
William, son William and Jane Moffatt, bap. at ye Deep
out, Thorold.
Elizabeth, dau. George and Sarah Lovell, bap. at ye Deep
cut, Thorold.
Mary Ann, dau. Thomas and Isabella Horsfield, bap. at
ye Deep cut, Thorold.
James, son Joseph and Ann Lundy, bap. at ye Deep cut,
Thorold.
Oct. 8. Robert Hill, son Robt. Henry and Elizabeth Dee, Stam-
ford, bap. at Stamford.
Nov. 29. George, son Francis and Elizabeth Humphries, bap. at
Chippawa church.
Dec. 22. Margaret Frances, dau. Lonsdale and Eliza Cockroft.
24. Edward, son Robert and Eliza Fletcher, bap. at Deep cut.
George, son John and Ann Malton, bap. at Deep cut.
John Alexander, son James and Ann Trotter, bap. at Deep
cut. *
Thomas, son Robt. and Ellen Armstrong, bap. at Deep cut.
*St. John's Church, Stamford, built, 1825, Sir Peregrine Maitland, the
Governor, who had a fine residence in Stamford, being one of the chief movers.
190
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1830.
Jan. 26. John Richardson McGregor, son George and Susanna
Hutt, bap. at Lundy's Lane.
31. Thomas, son Michael and Esther Pearson, born June 4,
1824.
Elizabeth, dau. Michael and Esther Pearson, born June
1, 1827.
Pamela Ann, dau. Michael and Esther Pearson, born Sept.
17, 1829.
March 16. Margaret Ellen, dau. Joseph and Sarah Johnston, bap. in
Stamford.
James Gordon, son Joseph and Sarah Johnston, bap. in
Stamford.
April 4. Mary, dau. Peter and Agnes Lampman, bap. in Stamford
church.
4. Eliza Ann, dau. Susan Dell, bap. at Lundy's Lane.
May 9. Harriet, dau. John and Sarah Gurr, born 6th April, 1830,
bap. at Chippawa church.
Jane, dau. George and Ann Smith, born 12th Aug., 1828,
bap. at Chippawa church.
13. Robert Grant, son George and Susan Kirkland, Queens-
ton, bap. at Queenston.
18. Nancy Ann, dau. Henry and Elizabeth Spincks, bap. in
Stamford township.
24. Richard, son John and Mary Silverthorn.
July 11. Ann Eliza, dau. Joseph and Mary Smith, Ealls, bap. at
Chippawa church.
Aug. 23. Eliza Jane, dau. Alexander and Elizabeth Cammell, Deep
cut, Thorold, bap. at Lundy's Lane.
Wilfred, son Hugh and Ann Burns, Chippawa creek.
29. Robert Grant, son Jacob Keefer and Christiana, his wife,
bap. .at Queenston church.
Joseph Alexander, son Alexander* and Hannah Hamilton,
bap. at Queenston church.
Sept. 12. William Jacob, son - - and - - Dittrick, St. Cath-
arines, bap. at St. Catharines.
Caroline Amelia, dau. Jacob H. and Catherine Ball, bap.
at German church.
* Sheriff Alexander Hamilton (son of Hon. Robert Hamilton), who died in
1839, never having recovered from the shock sustained in having to execute
Morreau in Niagara for his part in the Rebellion, as no executioner could be
found. Hannah Owen Jarvis, nis wife, the daughter of Win. Jarvis, Provincial
Secretary.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 191
)ct. 13. Eliza Catherine, dau. John and Sarah Ann Decoe, bap.
at Mr. Lacy's, Thorold.
Frederick, son John and Sarah Ann Decoe, bap. at Mr.
Lacy's, Thorold.
24. Samuel Street, son James and Harriet Maclem, bap. at
Chippawa church.
]STov. 8. David, son David and Nancy McCaig, bap. at Deep cut,
Thorold.
Eobert, son Eobt. and Mary Coutes, bap. at Deep cut,
Thorold.
10. Joseph, son George and Ann Shaw, St. David's, bap. at
St. David's.
Sarah, dau. Richard and Mary Smith, Queenston, bap. at
St. David's.
Elizabeth, dau. Richard and Mary Smith, Queenston, bap.
at St. David's.
Sarah, dau. Arthur and Jane Shaw, bap. at St. David's.
9. Lydia, dau. Stephen and Patience Paine, Stamford, bap.
Dec. 9, 1830.
Roxalana, dau. Stephen and Patience Paine, Stamford,
bap. Dec. 9, 1830.
Julius Francis, son Stephen and Patience Paine, bap. Dec.
9, 1830.
Stephen, son Stephen and Patience Paine, bap. Dec. 9,
1830.
Sarah, dau. Stephen and Patience Paine, bap. Dec. 9,
1830.
Benjamin, son Stephen and Patience Paine, bap. Dec. 9,
1830.
Hiram, son Stephen and Patience Paine, Stamford, bap.
Dec. 9, 1830.
Alexander, son Stephen and Patience Paine, Stamford,
bap. Dec. 9, 1830.
Julia Maria, dau. Stephen and Patience Paine, Stamford,
bap. Dec. 9, 1830.
David Burbee, son Dominique and Patience Labourier,*
Stamford, bap. at Stamford.
1831.
Jan. 23. Lewis Hughs, son Richard and Elizabeth Martin, Lundy's
Lane.
*Sabourier ?
192
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Feb. 21. Mary Ann, dau. Alexander and Esther McCaig or Cabe,
Thorold.
Ellen, dau. Wm. and Catherine Hodgson, Canal, Thorold.
March 12. Susan Hepburne, Chippawa.
June 9. James, son Dr. and Elizabeth Cockroft, Lundy's Lane.
Aug. 21. Margaret Maria, dau. James and Margaret Gordon, Stam-
ford.
Abigail, dau. John and Mary Willson, Stamford, bap. in
Stamford church.
Sept. 8. Hannah, dau. John and Sarah Hirst, Thorold.
10. Eliza, dau. Thomas and Ann Jane Brady, Humber stone.
Oct. 18. Margaret, dau. Jacob and Christiana Keefer, Thorold,
bap. in Thorold.
Valancey, dau. Richard Leonard and Frances, his wife,
Lundy's Lane.
Dec. 14. George, son George and Arm Smith, Bridgewater.
James, son Joseph and Mary Smith, Bridgewater.
Date forgotten. Robert, son Robert and — Brown, Wainfleet.
1832.
Feb. 11. James, son James and Elizabeth Gamble, Trafalgar, was
baptized Feb. 11.
Ann Jane, dau. James and Sarah Dougher, Humberstone,
was baptized Feb. 11.
29. Reuben, son Robt. and Margaret Pew, Stamford, was bap-
tized Feb. 29.
Pamelia or Parmelia, dau. Thomas and Elizabeth Brooks,
Stamford, was baptized Feb. 29.
Abigail, dau. Thomas and Elizabeth Brooks, Stamford, wi
baptized Feb. 29.
Maria, dau. Thomas and Elizabeth Brooks, Stamford, was
baptized Feb. 29.
Alfred, son Thomas and Elizabeth Brooks, Stamford, was
baptized Feb. 29.
Susan, dau. John and Mary Wilson, Stamford, was bap-
tized Feb. 29.
Sarah, dau. John and Eliza Thomas, Thorold, was bap-
tized Feb. 29.
March 1. George, son George and Susan Kirkland, Queenston.
18. Elizabeth, dau. Robt. and Margaret Kirkpatrick.
31. Edward, son Harmonius and Edna Crysler, Drummond-
ville.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC.
193
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
7. Mary Moses, Chippawa.
9. Robert McKinley, son George and Susanna Hutt.
13. Thomas, son Peter and Agnes Ann Lampman, Niagara,
bap. at Stamford church.
7. Harriet Martha, dau. Robt. and Elizabeth Dee, Stamford.
10. Samuel, son John and Jane Pile, Gravelley bay.
Richard, son Richard and Margaret Hannah, Gravelley
bay.
31. William, son John and Mary Orr, Canal, near Brown's
Bridge.
David, son David and Ann Frazer, Canal, near Brown's
Bridge.
6. Ann Elizabeth, dau. George and Ann Smith, Bridgewater.
George, son John and Rachel Huff, Chippawa.
William, son John and Rachel Huff, Chippawa.
7. George Jacob, son Francis and Susan Galbraith.
Anthony Upper, son Francis and Susan Galbraith.
25. Joseph, son Patrick and Elizabeth Maloy, Thorold.
26. Christiana, dau. Nicholas and Catherine Near, Bertie.
25. John, son Wm. and Ann Rees, Queenston.
27. Margaret, dau. Isaac and Anna Thomas, Lundy's Lane.
30. Lonsdale Warner, son John and Rachael Welles, Chippawa.
14. William, son John and Ellinor Wilson, was baptized at
Stamford church.
19. John, son Richard and Mary Rodd, was baptized at
Willoughby.
1833.
an.
1. Walter Umfraville, son John Cleveland Green, Esq., and
, his wife, Stamford park.
Feb. 2. Eleanor Theresa, dau. — and — Wellstead, Stamford
park.
George Thorold, son — and — Well&tead, Stamford park.
Georgiana Thorold, dau. — and — Wellstead, Stamford
park.
3. , — Malcolm and Laura Laing, Stamford Park.
28. Octavia Murray Sandys, son Philip Percival Graham,
R.N., and Mary, his wife, Niagara Falls.
March 12. William, son Thomas and Elizabeth Coulson.
May 1. Admiral Joseph, son — Kidson and - — , his wife, Stam-
ford.
5. Eliza, dau. - and - — , Chippawa church.
13
194
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
May 26. Mary Ann, dau. Kichard and Eliza Sharp, Chippawa.
June 16. William Jarvis, son Alexander and Hannah Owen Hamil-
ton, Queenston.
Baptized a stranger's child at Chippawa church.
18. Susanna Jane, dau. George and Jane Jamieson, Humber-
stone.
Robert, son George and Jane Jamieson, Humberstone.
30. Sarah, dau. John and Marianne Arbut, Queenston.
Sept. 22. Jane, dau. James and Jane Bird, Stamford.
29. Phebe Rooth, dau. George and Phebe Upper, Talbot street.
John, son Joseph and Charlotte Upper, Thorold.
James, son Joseph and Charlotte Upper, Thorold.
Susanna, dau. Jacob and Jane Upper, Thorold.
Aug. 3. Ann, dau. Moses and Christina Marsh, Chippawa.
Mary, dau. Moses and Christina Marsh, Chippawa.
Shadrach, son Moses and Christina Marsh, Chippawa.
Oct. 13. Elizabeth Mary, dau. James and Margaret Gordon, Stam-
ford.
1834.
Jan. 19. Jane Cockroft, dau. Robt. and Margaret Kirkpatrick,
Chippawa.
21. Sarah Harriet, dau. Wm. and Angel Duff, Chippawa.
23. Mary Ann, dau. Robt. and Elizabeth Hannah, Stamford.
Wm. Alexander, son Robt. and Elizabeth Hannah, Stam-
ford.
Feb. 23. Maria, dau. Charles Chard (painter) and Sophia, his wife,
Drummondville.
March 16. Thomas Stamford, son • and - Wellstead,
Thorold.
April 20. Frederic Straith, son Rev. Fred'k William Miller* and
Anna Isabella, his wife, was born Nov. 1, 1833, bap-
tized Chippawa, Apr. 20, 1834. Sponsors: General
Murray, Wm. Mitchell and Mrs. Mary Straith.
22. Frances Dorothea, dau. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, Queenston.
May 18. George, son Edw. and Mary Ann Laughton, Stamford,
was born 21st Feb., bap. May 18.
June 22. George, son John and Charlotte Coulson, Stamford.
July 31. Thomas Shepherd, son Thomas Shepherd Smythe and
Harriet, his wife. Sponsors: John Yere Smythe,
Samuel Braybroke and Mary Anne Braybroke.
*Rev. F. W. Miller, took Mr. Leeming's place when in England, succeeded
mm in 1830. This is the first reference to sponsors.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC.
195
Sept.
Oct.
lov.
July 9. John Matthew, son Eobt. Dee, Esq., and Elizabeth, his
wife, Stamford, was baptized July 9.
27. Charles Forsyth,* son Charles and Margaret Secord,
Queenston.
Aug. 4. John, son Thomas and Mary Ann Slinger, Clifton.
5. Sally Steele, dau. Richard and Jane Steele.
10. Mary Ann Slinger, adult dau. Moses and Christine Marsh,
Clifton. (See 1833, owing to W. L.'s omission.—
G. A. B.)
14. Ann, Phebe, and two others, dau. Andrew and Lucy
Dowler, Queenston, privately baptized at Queenston
church.
21. Maria, dau. James and Rebecca Williams.
12. Wm. Gillespie, son Dr. Slade Robinson and Mary, his
wife, Ealls of Niagara.
25. Emma, dau. John and Louisa Marks, Stamford, was born
Sept. 5.
27. Thos. Blackmore, son — and — Arkinton, Lundy's Lane.
30. William, son George and Rosanna Dresser, bap. at Stam-
ford church.
Dec. 3. Sally Ann, dau. Richard and Mary Rodd, Stamford, was
born Oct. 4.
16. Susanna, dau. Martin and Margaret Hayes, Stamford.
21. Charles Cowell (adult), Stamford, was baptized at Stam-
H ford church.
Sarah Cowell (adult) , Stamford, was baptized at Stamford
church.
William, son George, Jr. and Margaret Keefer, Thorold,
was baptized at German church.
28. Thomas, son Thomas and Elizabeth Coulson, Thorold.
1835.
Jan. 14. Charles Francis, son John Cleveland Green and , his
wife, Stamford.
15. James, son Samuel and Mary Ann Braybrook, Stamford.
Feb. 12. Edward Herbert, son Robert and Emma Delatre, Stam-
ford, private, born Feb. 11.
* Grandson of James Secord and Laura Ingersoll; taught school in Drum-
mondville; went to United States. His children are the only descendants in
the male line hearing the name, as James B. Secord, his brother, died without
issue in Niagara.
196
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
March 8. Caroline Emily,* dau. Alexander and Hannah Owen
Hamilton, Queenston, was born 4th Jan. Sponsors,
Fred. B. Tench, Oath. Robertson and Catherine
Hamilton.
15. Samuel Cuthbert, son Jacob and Christine Keefer, Thorold.
Frederic Augustus, son George and Susanna Hutt, Stam-
ford, bap. at German church.
April 7. Priscilla, dau. Erastus and Jemima Moses, Willoughby.
Elizabeth, dau. Erastus .and Jemima Moses, Willoughby.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
19. Sarah, dau. George and Ann Smith, Bridgewater.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
21. George Leonard, son Isaac and Anna Thomas, Stamford.
Sarah Elizabeth, dau. Isaac and Anna Thomas, Stamford.
Martha Ann, dau. Isaac and Anna Thomas, Stamford.
26. Ellen Shipton (adult), Drummondville, bap. at Chippawa
church.
Ellen Maria, dau. John Smith Maclem and Susan Maria,
his wife, Chippawa.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
Feb. 22. Emily Evans, dau. Win. Russell and Elizabeth, his wife,
was born 17th Jan.
May 3. William Henry, son Wm. Henry Pirn and Hannah, his
wife, was born Jan. 26, 1834.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
11. Mary Maria, dau. George Wallis and Juliette, his wife,
Nelson, born March 20, privately baptized.
T. B. FULLER, Off. Min.
18. Frances Ann, dau. John Wilson and Eleanor, his wife.
25. John Asa, son Benjamin Draper and Ann, his wife.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
June 7. Mary, dau. Joseph Hamilton, M.D.,t and Ann, his wife,
Queenston, was born March 15.
A. NELLES, Off. Min.
* Daughter of Sheriff Hamilton; married George Durand, River Road,
Niagara.
tAnother son of Hon. Robert Hamilton, lived above the mountain.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 197
June 25. Ellen Eliza, dau. Ogden Creighton, Esq., and Eleanor
Eliza, his wife.
July 5. - — , Mr. Gordon's child, Stamford church. (Written
memoir on a slip of paper, without signature. —
G. A. B.)
Aug. 30. Sarah Jane, dau. Henry and Elizabeth Marshall.
David, son Henry and Elizabeth Marshall.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
Robert, son Robt. and Mary Lawson, bap. at Chippawa
church.
Oct. 18. Evelina, dau. John and Mary Lampman, Thorold.
Nov. 1. Robert, (Parents' names omitted), bap. at Chippawa
church.
3. Mary Elizabeth Croft, dau. Frederic Huddlestone and
Mary, his wife.
4. Thomas, son — Tyrrel and Eliza, his wife.
8. Sophia Frances, dau. James Cummings and Sophia, his
wife.
Samuel Street, son James Maclem and Harriet, his wife.
Dec. 22. Charles Albert, son John Whiteford Morrison and Mar-
garet Douglas, his wife, Stamford.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
1836.
Jan. 6. Wm. Joseph Alexander, son Wm. Alexander Campbell,
Esq., and Harriet Grace, his wife, was born 30th
Nov., 1835.
Feb. 7. Mary, dau. John G. Stockly and Catherine, his wife, was
born 18th Aug., 1834.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
28. Charles, son Robert and Isabella McCue, bap. at Thorold.
April 24. Arthur Thorold, son — Wellstead and - — , his wife.
May 1. Eliza, dau. Wm. Russell and Elizabeth, his wife, Drum-
mondville.
Charles Leeming, son Henry Ball and Mary, his wife,
Thorold.
15. Samuel Charles, son Edward and Mary Ann Lawton.
198
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
June 5. Mary, dan. Jacob Aemilius Irving* and Catherine Diana,
his wife.
26. Louisa, dau. John and Charlotte Coulson, Stamford.
James Eastham, son Thomas and Ann Humphrey.
July 3. Euphemia Ann, dau. William and Mary Ann Wells.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
17. Cordelia Melvina, dau. Jacob J. Ball and Catherine, his
wife, of Grantham, was baptized at Grantham church.
Margaret, dau. Richard and Jane Steele, City of the Ealls,
born May 28.
30. Mary Arm, dau. William and Ellen Hope, born May 21st,
bap. at Chippawa.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
Aug. 7. Herbert, son Eobert Sparrow Delatre, Esq.,t and Emma
Mary, his wife. Received into ye congregation, with
sponsors, having been previously baptized, Feb. 14th,
1835.
Francis, son Robert Sparrow Delatre, Esq., and Emma
Mary, his wife.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
16. William Cawthorne, son William Duff, Esq., and Angel,
his wife, was born 6th Aug.
William Henry, son Wm. George Mitchell and Harriet, his
wife, was born 3rd October, 1835.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
28. Cicely, dau. Richard Savage and Georgiana, his wife, Stam-
ford.
Georgiana, dau. Richard Savage and Georgiana, his wife,
Stamford.
Sept. 22. Hermannus, son Samuel Fletcher and Hannah, his wife,
bap. at Chippawa.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
*Hon. Jacob Aemilius Irving, native of Jamaica, of the 13th Light
Dragoons; buried at Stamford, 1797-1856.
fSon of Col. Delatre, who was born 1777; died, 1848; President of Niagara
Harbor and Dock Company; died suddenly on steamer between Niagara and
Toronto. A house in Niagara is still called Delatre Lodge and there is a
Delatre Street.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 199
Oct. 9. Mary, dan. Jacob Keefer and Christine, his wife, Thorold,
was born Aug. 28.
THOS. B. FULLER, Off. Min.
14. Matilda, dau. Francis VianAssche and Jane, his wife, was
born Sept. 21.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Min.
7. Mary Fuller. (Parents7 names omitted.— G. A. B.) No
signature^
Nov. 6. Charles William, son Charles Chard and Sophia, his wife,
was born March 8.
F. W. MILLER, Off. Mm.
9. George, son John Darker and Bridget, his wife, Thorold.
Deborah, dau. John and Bridget Darker, Thorold.
Emily, dau. John and Bridget Darker, Thorold.
John, son John and Bridget Darker, Thorold.
Jane, dau. John and Bridget Darker, Thorold.
James, son John and Bridget Darker, Thorold.
13. Elizabeth, dau. Thomas Jory iand Mary Jane, his wife,
Stamford.
27. George Truscot, son John Cleveland Green, Esq., and Eliza,
his wife, Stamford Park.
1837.
Tan. 6. James, son Peter Husted and Sarah, his wife, Stamford.
Mary Ann, dau. Joseph Strong and Maria, his wife,
Clifton.
7. Emm a, dau. John Marks and Louisa, his wife, Clifton.
John, son John Marks and Louisa, his wife, Clifton.
Feb. 6. Margaret Ann Harriet, dau. Samuel Ussher and Harriet
Rebecca, his wife, Bertie.
Cynthia Jane, dau. Stephen Conklin and Jane, his wife,
Chippawa.
13. George, son George Dennis and Jane, his wife, Stamford.
March 4. Arthur, son John Garden, Esq., and Mary, his wife, Stam-
ford Township.
Feb. 13. John, son George Potter and Catherine, his wife, Stam-
ford Township.
22. Eliza, dau. - - Orme and , his wife, Drummondville.
24. Mary Patterson, dau. Dr. Slade Robinson and Mary, his
wife, City of the Falls, was baptized privately.
200
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
March 28. Elizabeth, dau. George Dalby and Christiana, his wife,
Stamford, born 29th April, 1833. (See below.)
April 9. Kobert, son William McDonald and Isabella, his wife,
Stamford Township.
June 17. Catherine, dau. William Burleigh and Mary, his wife,
Stamford.
July 2. Martha Margaret, dau. Peter Lampman and Agnes Ann.,
his wife, baptized at German church.
March 28. George, son George Dalby and Christiana, his wife, Stam-
ford, born 12th Feb., 1835.
Matthew, son George Dalby and Christiana, his wife, born
5th Feb., 1837.
July 17. Sarah, dau. James Maclem, Jr., and Harriet, his wife,
Chippawa, baptized privately.
26. Thomas, son Herbert Tyson and Elizabeth, his wife, Stam-
ford, was born April 2.
28. Amelia, dau. John Evans and Mary, his wife, Clifton.
Lucy, dau. William Jeffrys and Ann, his wife, Falls.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZE!) BY ME, W. LEEMING, MINISTER OF CHIP-
PAWA, IN YE YEAR OF OlJR LORD ONE THOUSAND ElGHT HlJN-
DRED AND TWENTY.
1820.
By license, by and with consent of parents, Captain Donald
Charles McLean and Ann Warren, the 23rd day of August, 1820.
'By banns, by and with ye consent of parents, William Lambert
and Mary Otley, of Short-hills, the twenty-fourth day of October, 1820.
1821.
By license, according to ye due and prescribed forms of ye Church
of England, William MacKenzie and Margaret Kickards, Niagara
Falls, the eighteenth day of January, One Thousand Eight Hundred
and Twenty-one.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 201
By banns, Isaac Dawn and Mary Clark, of ye Township of Crow-
land, the 22nd day of January, 1821.
By banns, Benjamin Shrigley and Martha Ward, the 23rd day of
Hanuary, 1821.
By banns, Jacob Smith and Betsey Sniveley, Township of Wil-
loughby, 19th of February, 1821.
By banns, Frederic Almas, of Barton, and Elizabeth Campbell, of
iStamford, the 9th April, 1821. (Keturned to ye Society.)
By license, John Almas, of Barton, and Jane Campbell, of Stam-
ford, the seventh day of May, 1821.
By banns, Thomas Wilson, of ye Township of Thorold, >and Mary
Wright, of Stamford, the 23rd day of May, 1821.
By banns, Philip Carl and Amanda Chamberlain, of Thorold, ye
29th May, 1821.
By banns, Henry Miller and Elizabeth Byer, both of Willoughby,
ye 25th of September, 1821.
By banns, Matthew Thomas and Elizabeth Bellinger, of Pelham,
ye 26th of September, 1821.
By banns, Thomas Dell, of Crowland, and Anna Rice Tinney, of
rilloughby, the fourth day of October, 1821.
By license, Andrew Todd Kerby, of Canboro', and Margaret
Maclem, of Chippawa, ye fifth day of October, 1821.
By banns, Jacob Davis and Rosanna Fletcher, of the Township of
Thorold, the eight day of October, 1821.
By banns, John Perry, of ye Township of Stamford, and Eliza-
beth Ridley, of ye Township of Niagara, the twenty-second day of
October, 1821.
By license, Abraham Bowman, widower, of Stamford, and Mary
Sniveley, widow, of Willoughby, the seventh day of November, 1821.
1822.
By license, George Gillies and Elizabeth McKettrick, both of
Niagara Falls, Stamford, the seventh day of February, 1822.
By banns, Peter Miller and Deborah Spedding, both of Bertie, the
18th March, 1822.
By banns, William Stringer and Helen Burns, both of Crowland,
the 19th of March, 1822.
By banns, Robert Feers, of ye Township of Thorold, and Melinda
Burgher, of Wainneet, the 28th day of March, 1822.
(Robt. Fero, March 28.)
202
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By license, Colonel John Warren* and Charlotte Stanton,t both
of Fort Erie, Bertie, ye 1st May, 1822.
By banns, Matthias^ Haun, bachelor, and Lucinda Cook, spinster,
both of ye Township of Crowland, ye 8th May, 1822.
By banns, John Haim and Lucy Cook, both of ye Township of
Crowland, the 2nd day of July, 1822.
By banns, Peter Foreman, of Bertie, and Anna Byer, of Wil-
loughby, the 12th day of August, 1822.
By banns, John Wunner,§ of the Township of Bertie, and Cath-
erine Bouk, of Thorold, the 4th of August, 1822.
By license, John Darling and Agnes Terry, of ye Township of
Thorold, the 26th day of October, 1822.
By license, John Wilson, || of Niagara, and Mary Lee, of the Town-
ship of Bertie, married in Bertie, the 28th November, 1822.
By license, Lewis Traver and Charlotte Hosteter, both of the
Township of Grantham, married in Grantham, the llth of December,
1822.
1823.
By banns, Aaron Parse and Mary Hunt, of Grantham, married in
ye German church, Thorold, the 12th January, 1823.
WM. LEEMING.
By license, Rev. Wm. Leeming and Margaret H. Shaw, both of
Stamford, married in Stamford, the 13th of January, 1823.
RALPH LEEMING^ Min. of Ancaster.
* In St. Paul's graveyard, Fort Erie, he is styled J.P. and M.P.P. for
Haldimarid, died in 1832. At one time lie was defeated in a Parliamentary
election by John Brant, who, however, was unseated, being an Indian.
f Charlotte Stanton was the daughter of Wm. Stanton, Deputy Assistant
Commissary-General, who was buried in Fort Erie, 1833 ; the monument was
erected by the thirteen surviving children.
JMatthew?
§ Warner?
||In the list of United Empire Loyalists is called " Irish John." He was for
many years church warden in St. Mark's, Niagara. His will leaves property
to thirteen children and two stepdaughters, children of Mary Lee, by a former
marriage.
flRev. Ralph Leeming, the brother of Rev. Wm. Leeming, was sent out as
missionary to the Gore District by the S.P.G., and was the first rector of
Ancaster, where he is buried. He was born in Yorkshire, England in 1789 and
died in 1872. One of the lost registers, containing baptisms and marriages
from 1816 to 1827, was lately found in Buffalo and has been printed by the
Hamilton branch of the U.E.L. Society.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 203
By banns, Martin Shoup and Magdalene Miller, of Willoughby,
married in Stamford, the 14th January, 1823.
By license, David Lynch and Ann Shannon,* both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, the 22nd January, 1823.
By banns, Matthew McKinney and Phebe Brayley, of Crowland,
married in Stamford, the 6th of February, 1823.
By banns, Jacob Nunnymaker and Catherine Wedge, of Stamford,
married in Stamford, the 18th of February, 1823.
By license, William Anthony, of Grand River, and Sarah Winter-
mute, of Bertie, married in Bertie, the 22nd of Feb.
By banns, James Sypes and Pamela Fearo, of Crowland, married
in Stamford, the 3rd day of March, 1823.
By banns, John Stringer and Euphemia Dawdy,t of Pelham, mar-
ried in Stamford, the llth day of March, 1823.
By banns, Christian Platts and Mary Benner, of the Township of
Bertie, married in Bertie, the 16th day of March, 1823.
By banns, Henry Dell, of Willoughby, and Anna Abbett, of Pel-
ham, married in Stamford, the 17th day of March, 1823.
Jacob Brookfield, of Crowland, and Mary Winters, of Humber-
stone, married by banns in Humberstone, the 24th day of March, 1823.
By banns, Asa Strauder and Mary Buckner, both of Crowland,
married in Crowland, the 25th day of March, 1823.
By banns, Samuel Wait and Ann Shoup, both of Willoughby, mar-
ried in Stamford, the 25th day of March, 1823.
By license, Peter T. Pawling^ bachelor, and Catherine Cameron,
widow, both of the Township of Niagara, married in Niagara, the
7th day of April, 1823.
By license, Thomas McBride, of Thorold, and Ann Lampman, of
Niagara, married in ye Townsihip of Niagara, the 24th day of April,
1823.
By banns, Jacob Foreman, of Bertie, and Elizabeth Miller, of
Willoughby, married in Stamford, the 6th day of May, 1823.
By license, Jacob Near and Mary Reevs, both of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, the 14th day of May, 1823.
By banns, Christian Shoup, of the Township of Willoughby, and
Abigail Bernhart, of the Township of Bertie, married in Stamford,
the 20th day of May, 1823.
*The name of Lanty Shannon occurs in Free Mason lore, as the lodge met
at his house in Stamford.
fDowdy ?
$A remarkable inscription to Nanna Pawling is in the Bellinger family
burying ground near Niagara.
204 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
By license, Frederick Hutt and Mary Lemon, both of Stamford,
married at Mr. Lemon's* house, the 28th day of Sept., 1823.
By license, Erastus Moses, widower, and Jemima Men-it, spinster,
both of Stamford, married in Stamford, the 7th day of October, 1823.
By banns, Jacob Miller and Sophia Riselay, both of ye Township
of Bertie, married in Bertie on Thursday, the 20th day of November,
1823.
By license, Thomas Creen,f Clerk of Niagara, and Ann Ball,$ of
Grantham (or Thorold), spinster, married in Grantham, the 25th day
of December, 1823.
1824.
By banns, Joseph Brooks, of Pelham, and Margaret Carr, of
Crowland, married in Stamford, the 29th day of January, 1824.
By banns, David Hodkins, of Gainsboro/ and Jemima Ball, of
Crowland, married in Crowland, the 28th day of February, 1824.
By banns, John Slack and Phebe Bercham,§ of Stamford, marri<
in Stamford, ye 1st of April, 1824.
John Eian, of Crowland, and Mary Ann Ward, of Thorold,
ried by banns in Stamford, the 5th day of April, 1824.
John Watson and Susannah Guilsharp, of Thorold, married
banns in Stamford, ye llth day of April, 1824.
Hugh Vanderlip, of Niagara, and Phebe Laraway, of Granth*
married by license at Chippawa, the 1st August, 1824.
George Eose, bachelor, and Lucy G. Parnell, spinster, both
Grantham, were married in Grantham, by license, the 19th day of
August, 1824.
William Mann, bachelor, and Elizabeth Soper, spinster, both of
Grantham, were married in Stamford, by license, on Sunday, the 12th
of September, 1824.
John Knisely, of Sherbrook Forest, and Susannah Hershy,|| of
Chippawa, were married by banns, in Stamford, the 5th day of
October, 1824.
"Commonly called Squire Lemon.
'*• ^ %v Thos- Creen> who was the successor of Rev. R. Addison, born, 1799;
64; Rector of St. Marks, 1829 to 1856; also taught the Grammar School.
$Ann Ball, daughter of Jacob Ball, one of the three sons of Jacob Ball,
wno, with his sons, came in 1780 with Butler's Rangers. A muster roll of one
company is in existence, signed Jacob Ball, Lieutenant, in 1782.
§Beecham ?
IINear Fort Erie is the Hershy family burying ground; the family came
nfTn Pe^nsyj7ania to Canada in 1795, Old Benjamin Hersche living to the age
'0 and others of the name attaining great age
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 205
Lewis Lambert, of Township of Niagara, and Ann Secord, of
Grantham, were married, by license, the 24th of October, 1824, in
Stam'ford.
James Hamilton, Esq., of Southold, bachelor, and Catherine Jane
Warren, of Bertie, spinster, were married, by license, at Fort Erie,
the first day of November, 1824.
James Hogg, of the Township of York, and Elizabeth Orr, of ye
Township of Thorold, were married, by license, in Thorold, on Tues-
day, ye 23rd day of November, 1824.
Isaac Hoshel,* bachelor, and Cloe Everingham, spinster, both of
Crowland, were married, by license, in Stamford, the first day of
December, 1824.
By banns, Samuel Shenk,t of Amherst, Erie Co., U.S., and Mag-
dalen Boyer, of Chippawa, married in Chippawa, the twenty-first day
of December, 1824.
By license, Richard Bulcock and Susan Durham, both of Stam-
ford, married in Stamford, the 22nd day of December, 1824.
By license, Samuel Clement and Martha Porter, both of ye Town-
ship of Niagara, married in Township of Niagara, the 23rd December,
1824.
By license, John Stull and Maria Trevor, both of Grantham, mar-
ried in Grantham, the 23rd day of December, 1824.
By license, Samuel Minard, of ye Township of Stamford, and
Rebecca Moore, of ye Township of Pelham, married in Stamford, the
25th day of December, 1824.
1825.
By license, William Robertson (alias Durham), bachelor, and
Martha Green, spinster, both of Stamford, married in Stamford, on
Wednesday, the 5th day of January, 1825.
By license, Abraham Conklin, bachelor, and Jane Smith, spinster,
both of Stamford, married in Stamford, the sixth day of January,
1825.
By license, John Ball Lawrence, widower, of the Township of
Niagara, and Catherine Burch, spinster, of Louth, married at Niagara,
the sixth day of January (6th Jan.), 1825.
By banns, John Haney and Margaret Martin, both of Pelham,
married in Stamford, the 16th day of January, 1825.
*Hoskel?
fSherk?
206 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By license, James William Osgood Clark, of Louth, and Mary
Turney,* of Thorold, married in Thorold, on Tuesday, the 18th day
of January, 1825.
By license, Joshua Cudney and Margaret Grass, both of ye Town-
ship of Grantham, married on Thursday, the 20th day of January,
1825.
By banns, Isaac Misener and Susan Kilts, both of ye Township of
Crowland, married in Crowland, the 27th day of January, 1825.
By banns, John Johnson, of ye Township of Clinton, and Phebe
Lampman, of Stamford, married in Stamford, the first day of Fel
ruary, 1825.
By banns, Alexander Robinson and Mary McMicking,t both oi
iStamford, married in Stamford, the 15th day of February, 1825.
By license, Austin Morse and Mira Cook, of Stamford, married ii
Stamford, the 23rd day of March, 1825.
By license, Cornelius VanWyck and Matilda Forsyth, both
Stamford, married in Stamford, the 18th day of May, 1825.
By license, John Lemon, bachelor, and Martha Haton, spinster,
both of Stamford, married in Stamford, the 22nd day of August, 1821
By license, David Thompson, of Wainfleet, and Sarah Ann Wil
of Pelham, married in Pelham, the 15th September, 1825.
By license, Harmonius Chrysler and Edna Cook, both of Sti
ford, married in Stamford, the 5th October, 1825.
By license, Hugh Creen, Erin, County of Halton, Gore Distric
and Catherine Ferguson, of Barton, married at Hamilton, 3 Is
October, 1825.
By banns, Bejamin Moote, of Clinton, and Penelope Wright, oi
Stamford, married in Stamford, 15th November, 1825.
By license, David Wood, of Crowland, and Jane Emerick, of
Thorold, married in Thorold, 17th November, 1825.
By banns, Abraham Glimanhaga, of Willoughby, and Mary Sim-
merman,t of Bertie, married in Stamford, the 22nd November, 1825.
* In the Turney graveyard, near St. Catharines, is a stone commemorating
John Turney, of the King's 8th, Lieutenant in Butler's Rangers.
fin the Stamford Presbyterian burying-ground are records of burials as
far back as 1793, and settlements in 1785. Except perhaps the Mohawk
Church near Brantford, that erected here in 1787 was the earliest in Upper
Canada. Thomas McMicking is recorded as dying in the 80th year of his age.
Captain John McMicking fought at Queenston Heights. There are many of
the name buried at Chippawa; one branch came with the Loyalists, another
from Scotland; Gilbert McMicking, of Queenston, was an M.P.P.
±The name is spelled with " Z " by some branches of the family, by others
with " S."
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 207
1826.
By banns, Martin Buchner and Sarah Current, both of Crowland,
married in Stamford, the 15th January, 1826.
By banns, Henry Glimanhaga and Susan Bickard, of Bertie, mar-
ried in Stamford, the 23rd January, 1826.
By license, Wm. Richardson, of Grand Eiver, Gore District, and
Jane Cameron Grant, of Queenston, married, the llth of February,
1826.
By license, Arthur Lambert and Ann Durham, both of Niagara,
married in Stamford, the 12th of February, 1826.
By banns, John Arthur Tidey and Dorothy Hellems, of Crowland,
were married in Crowland, the 16th of February, 1826.
By license, Patrick Corbett and Armamilla Falconbridge, both of
Stamford, married in Stamford, the 18th of April, 1826.
By license, Angus McLeod and Margaret McAlpine, both of
Thorold, married in Thorold, 14th March, 1826.
By license, Peter Morse, Stamford, and Margaret Young, of
Crowland, married in Crowland, the 29th March, 1826.
By license, Matthew Camp and Catherine Killman, both of Stam-
ford, married in Stamford, the 13th April, 1826.
By banns, David Miller and Eve Shoup, of Willoughby, married
in Willoughby, the 18th day of April, 1826.
By banns, Ambrose Patterson, of Pelham, and Mary Buckner, of
Crowland, on the 18th April, 1826.
By license, John Nelles, of Grand River, and Rachel Elizabeth
Cockroft, of Chippawa, married at Chippawa, the 7th of June, 1826.
By license, Robert Fleming, of Lewiston, State of New York, and
Sarah Farris, of Niagara, married in ye Township of Niagara, the
8th day of June, 1826.
William Dell, of Crowland, and Lucretia Martin, of same place,
were married by banns, in Crowland, the 3rd May, 1826.
By banns, David Brown and Matilda Pell, both of Thorold, were
married in Thorold, 29th June, 1826.
By license, Alfred McCarty, Gainsborough, and Anna Miller, of
Bertie, married in Bertie, the 2nd of September, 1826.
By banns, Benjamin Overholser, of Markham, and Elizabeth
Miller, of Willoughby, married, in Stamford, llth of September, 1826.
By banns, Charles Scott and Elizabeth Thompson, of Thorold,
married in Stamford, the 18th day of September, 1826.
208
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By banns, John Upper, Stamford, and Elizabeth Coughell, Niagara,
married in Township of Niagara, October, 24th, 1826.
'By license, Samuel Pew and Mary Ann Kelly, both of Stamford,
in Stamford, October 26th, 1826.
By license, Francis Galbraith and Susan Upper, both of Thorold,
married in Thorold, October 29th, 1826.
By license, Samuel Forsyth and Sarah Defield, both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, November 14th, 1826.
By license, James Davis, of Pelham, and Alice Park, of Wain-
fleet, married in Wainfleet, on the 23rd November, 1826.
By banns, David Skinner and Catherine Potts, both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, 21st December, 1826.
By license, Joseph Maloy and Mary Watson, both of Thorold, mar-
ried, 27th December, 1826.
By license, Ira Cook and Ann Green, both of Stamford, married
in Stamford, 28th or 29th December, 1826.
1827.
By license, Caleb Swayzie,* and Lydia Hopkins, married in Stam-
ford, 16th of January, 1827.
By banns, David Moore, of Esquesing, and Joanna Silverthorn, of
Thorold, married in Stamford, January 22nd, 1827.
By banns, Jonah Howey and Phebe Vanatter, both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, January 30th, 1827.
By banns, George Shrigley and Anna Weir, both of Pelham, mar-
ried in Pelham, February 7th, 1827.
By banns, Myrick Curtis and Hannah Johnson, both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, February 19th, 1827.
By license, Philip Bender, of Stamford, and Elizabeth Misener,
of Crowland, married in Crowland, February 27, 1827.
By banns, Isaac Haney and Sarah Cottington, of Pelham, married
in Stamford, March 4th, 1827.
By banns, Kichard C. Griffin, of Grimsby, and Mahetabel Acce>
of Louth, married in Louth, May 1st, 1827.
By license, Sinclair Holden, of Markham, Home District, and
Abigail Lowdy, of Stamford, in Stamford, May 25, 1827. i'
*The most noted member of the family was Col. Isaac Swayzie, the member
for Lincoln ; lived on a farm near Niagara, which gave the name to the famous
apple called the Swayzie Pomme Grise
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 209
By license, Michael Gonder and Sarah Ann Wait,t both of Wil-
loughby, married in Willoughby, June 26, 1827.
By banns, Joseph W. Clark and Elizabeth Slack, both of Stam-
ford, married in Stamford, June 28th, 1827.
By license, Henry Keph, Niagara, and Ann Wintermute, of Gran-
tham, married in Stamford, July 25th, 1827.
By banns, William McKey and Sarah Acres, of Thorold, married
in Thorold, Aug. 14, 1827.
By license, Henry Spinckes, of Cavan, Newcastle District, and
Elizabeth Haslop, of Stamford, married in Stamford, Aug. 20, 1827.
By license, Robert Wilson, of Gainsborough, and Mary Hill, of
Thorold, married in Stamford, September 12, 1827.
By license, William Kelly, of Erie, State of Pennsylvania, and
Eliza Jane Emory, of Thorold, married in Thorold, Sept. 13, 1827.
By banns, Luke Lee, of Crowland, and Nancy Overholser, of Wil-
loughby, married in Stamford, Sept. 25th, 1827.
By license, Joseph Smith and Mary Blackstock, October 8th, 1827,
in Stamford.
By license, Alexander Young and Sarah Everitt, of Willoughby,
married in Stamford, Oct. 25, 1827.
(Inserted slip.)
John Moore, of the Incorporated Militia at Gravelley Bay, and
Mary Fortier, Stamford, Oct. 13. (No signature to slip. — G. A. B.)
By banns, Henry Taylor and Ellen Bouls, of Crowland, married
in Stamford, November 1st, 1827.
By license, George Smith and Ann Blackstock, of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, November 6th, 1827.
By license, Walter Fletcher and Patience Appleby, both of Thorold,
married in Thorold, November 10, 1827.
By license, Francis Goring, of Niagara, and Ann Mann, of Gran-
tham, married in Stamford, November 13, 1827.
By license, William Darby and Louisa Godfrey, of Grantham,
married in Stamford, November 18, 1827.
By license, John Coughell and Elizabeth Stevens, both of Niagara,
married in Niagara, December 6, 1827.
*The grandparents of Mr. Michael Gonder Scherck, the author of
"P'oneer Life," a book for young Canucks. Jacob Gonder, from Pennsylvania,
•Med in 1846, aged 71. Michael Gonder died, 1886, aged 82. The Gonder farm
is near Black Creek. The name was originally Gander.
f Sarah Ann Wait, related to Benjamin, who was condemned to be hanged
at Niagara in 1838, but was reprieved and sent to Van Dieman s Land.
14
210
ONTAKIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By license, Leonard M. Matthews and Anne Vanderburg, of
Thorold, married in Thorold, Nov. 21, 1827.
By license, James McNabb and Margaret Fletcher, both of Gran-
tham, married in Stamford, December 16, 1827.
1828.
By banns, William Tier and Nancy Taylor, of Grantham, married
in Stamford, January 15, 1828.
By license, James Cummings and Sophia Maclem,* both of Chip-
pawa, married at Chippawa, February 4th, 1828.
By banns, John B. Buckner, of Crowland, and Jane Larner, of
Bertie, married in Bertie, February 5, 1828.
By banns, Jacob Silverthorne and Catharine Vanalstine, both of
Thorold, married in Thorold, February 13, 1828.
By license, Abansing F. Eoss and Eachel Wilson, both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, March 4th, 1828.
By license, Jacob Upper and Penelope Jane Chase, married at
Anthony Upper's, Thorold, March 23, 1828.
By license, Charles Armstrong, of Oxford, Western District, and
Sarah McNeil, of Niagara, married at Mr. Lampman's, April 10, 1828.
By license, George Shaw and Ann Stoats, both of St. David's, mar-
ried at St. David's, May 4, 1828.
By license, James Wilson, Saltfleet, and Mary Coowine, Stamford,
married in Stamford, May 28, 1828.
By license, John K. Berger, of Pelham, and Mary Hoover, of
Thorold, married in Thorold, the 18th day of June, 1828.
By license, Louis Britten and Elizabeth Durham, of Grantham,
married in Stamford, July 13, 1828.
By banns, Peter Bernhart and Mary Fretz, both of Bertie, married
in Stamford, July 29, 1828.
By banns, Obed Dell and Elizabeth Lemon, both of Willoughby,
married in Stamford, August 12, 1828.
By banns, Herbert Lee and Mary Bier, both of Willoughby, mar-
ried in Stamford, September 9, 1828.
By license, Andrew Hansel and Margaret Carrol, of Thorold, mar-
ried in Thorold, Oct. 18, 1828.
*James Macklem came to Chippawa, in 1790 ; was a miller, distiller, mer-
chant. Provost Macklem, of Trinity College, is a descendant.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 211
By banns, John Lemon and Laura Dell, married in Stamford, 21st
October, 1828.
By license, Alexander Emmons and Sophia M. Moore, of Chip-
pawa, married at Chippawa, 22nd October, 1828.
By banns, Thomas Dressel and Mary Thomas, of Thorold, mar-
ried in Stamford, the 3rd November, 1828.
By banns, Amos Bradshaw, of Pelham, and Mary McCormick, of
Thorold, married in Stamford, Nov. 5, 1828.
By license, Dr. David J. Bowman and Jane Warren, Fort Erie,
married at Eort Erie, Nov. 6, 1828.
By banns, Jacob Miller, Willoughby, and Susanna Fariss, of
Wain-fleet, married in Wainfleet, Nov. 11, 1828.
By license, John Ladshaw and Mary Durham, of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, December 11, 1828.
By banns, Thomas Smith and Mary Welburn, Stamford, married in
Stamford, December 31st, 1828.
1829.
By banns, James Garnet and Elizabeth Hays, of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, January 19th, 1829.
By license, Francis Gore Swayzie, of Niagara, and Frances
Cowel, Thorold, married in Thorold, on Wednesday, the 4th February,
1829.
By banns, Leonard Loucks and Elizabeth Winchester, both of
Queenston, married at Queenston, on the 7th February, 1829.
By license, James Stone and Barbara Ott, both of Wainfleet, mar-
ried in Stamford, February 12th, 1829.
By banns, Henry Zimmerman and Regina Sherk, of Bertie, mar-
ried in Stamford, February 24th, 1829.
By license, John Hamilton, Esq.,* and Frances Pacia McPherson, t
of Queenston, married at Queenston, April 7, 1829.
By banns, Robt. Treffry, of St. David's, and Sarah Law, of Stam-
ford, married in Stamford, April 13th, 1829.
By license, Jacob Keefer, of Thorold, and Christina Grant,t
Queenston, married at Queenston, June 8th, 1829.
* Hon. John Hamilton, called the father of Marine on Lake Ontario, son of
Judge Hamilton ; died in Kingston, born 1802.
fFrancis Pacia McPherson, sister of Hon. D. L. McPherson.
JChristina Grant, the daughter of Robert Grant, from Inverness, Scot-
land, the issuer of marriage licenses at Queenston. He is buried in the
Lutheran graveyard, Thorold.
HA
212 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By license, Joseph Doan, of Thorold, and Susan Clarke, of Stam-
ford, married in Stamford, June 25th, 1829.
By banns, Henry Wright and Elizabeth Curtis, of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, July 9th, 1829.
By license, Cyrus Smith and Jemima Dittrick, of Grantham, mar-
ried in Grantham, July 12, 1829.
By license, Eobert Ingraham and Susan Douner,* of Willoughby,
married in Stamford, August 13th, 1829.
By banns, Thomas Lambert and Elizabeth Acre, both of Gains-
borough, were married in Stamford, July 16th, 1829.
By license, George Shafer, of Stamford, and Susanna Steinhoff,
Crowland, married in Crowland, August 20, 1829.
By banns, Christian Horst, Rainham, and Elizabeth Shoup, mar-
ried at Mrs. Shoup's, Sept. 1st, 1829.
By license, Archibald Irvine and Jane Lindsay, of Thorold, mar-
ried 17th October, 1829
By license, Christopher Warner Jones and Lucretia Caroline
Goring, of Niagara, married in Stamford, October 21st, 1829.
By license, James Maclem and Harriet Maria Ransom, married
on the 4th November, 1829.
By license, John McKinley, of Niagara Township, and Ann Law-
rence Clow, of Stamford, inarried November 26th, 1829.
By banns, Joseph Lemon and Sarah Misener, Crowland, married
December 1st, 1829.
By license, John McBride and Jane Morrow, married at Deep-cut,
Decembr 24, 1829.
1830.
By license, Samuel Woodward and Sarah Mead, of Grantham,
married in Stamford, January 24th, 1830.
By license, William Stull and Ann Secord, of Grantham, married
in Grantham, January 31st, 1830.
By license, Dominique Sabourier and Patience Paine, of Stamford,
married in Stamford, February 4th, 1830.
By banns, Jacob Lern, of Willoughby, and Penelope Buckbee, of
Crowland, married in Stamford, February 10th, 1830.
By banns, Andrew Yanderburgh, of Burford, and Mary Ker, of
Grantham, married in Grantham, Feb. 11, 1830.
*Donner?
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 213
By license, James Mann, Grantham, and Arm Goring, of Niagara,
married February 21, 1830.
Isaac Teller and Ann Upper, of Thorold, married by license, in
Thorold, February 21, 1830.
By license, James Mitchell and Elizabeth Sproll, married in
Thorold, March 17, 1830.
By banns, Adam Vanalstine and Elizabeth Conger, of Crowland,
married in Crowland, March 25th, 1830.
By license, Leonard Griffiths and Catherine Rouse, Stamford, mar-
ried at Lundy's Lane, April 4, 1830.
By license, James Gordon and Margaret Mylne, both of Stamford,
married in Stamford, the 16th (or 18th) April.
By banns, Samuel Hoton and Elizabeth Heslop, Gainsborough,
married in Stamford, April 29th, 1830. ,
By banns, James Thomas, Humberstone, and Elizabeth McDonald,
of Wainfleet, married in Stamford, May 10th, 1830.
By banns, Christian Sherk and Anna Bork,* of Bertie, married in
Stamford, M,ay Uth, 1830.
By license, Sayer Beach and Caroline Merriam, of Drummond-
ville, Stamford, married July 5th, 1830.
By license, John Parr and Margaret McCutcheon, Thorold, mar-
ried in Thorold, July ^2nd, 1830.
By license, William Current and Cynthia Wilson, both -of Crow-
land, married in Crowland, Sept. 7th, 1830.
By license, William Griffiths and Mary Brando, of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, September 16th, 1830.
By license, Frederick DeCoe and Elizabeth Lacy, both of Thorold,
married in Thorold, October 13th, 1830.
By license, James Durham, widower, and Ann Humphrey, both
of Niagara, married in Stamford, October 17th, 1830.
By license, James McNicoll and Sarah Street, married in Chip-
pawa church, November 10th, 1930.
By license, John YanWyck and Jane Shaw, Queenston, married
at Queenston, November 3rd, 1830.
By license, John Wright and Eliza Emmet, Grantham, married
in Stamford, November 14th, 1830.
By banns, John Bernhart .and Susannah Winger, of Willoughby,
married in Stamford, November 23rd, 1830.
By license, James Kirk and Sarah Foster, of Chippawa, married
in Lundy's Lane, November 25th, 1830.
*Bouk?
214
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
1831.
By banns, Francis Hunch and Catharine Campbell, of Gains-
borough, married in Lundy's Lane, February 9th, 1831.
By banns, Seth Tripp and Mary Conger, Willoughby, married in
Lundy's Lane, February 27, 1831.
By banns, Aaron Stringer and Mary Hunt, married in Pelham,
March 15th, 1831.
By banns, Eobert Dell and Mary Ammerman, Willoughby, married
in Stamford, 22nd March, 1831.
By license, Rev'd Abraham Nelles,* Grand River, and Hannah
Maclem, Chippawa, married in Chippawa church, May 3rd, 1831.
OBy license, Wm. Ardilly and Mary Stuart, Crowland, married
August 2nd, 1831.
By license, Jesse H. Lacy, Thorold, and Susan Cook, of Crowland,
married August 4th, 1831.
By banns, Wm. Silverthorne, Willoughby, and Catherine Bucker,
of Crowland, married August 9th, 1831.
By banns, Silas Bark and Susan Burns, Willoughby, married Aug.
llth, 1831.
By banns, Cornelius Acker and Mary Hull, Pelham, married
Aug. 2st, 1831.
By banns, George Bush and Eliza Ann Williams, Stamford, mar-
ried Aug. 25th, 1831.
By banns, Samuel Vanalstine and Mary Ann Buckner, Crowland,
married Sept. 6th, 1831.
By banns, Uriah Bernhart and Susanna Winger, Bertie, married
Sept. 13th, 1831.
By banns, Chester Kinnard, Wainfleet, and — Burns, Stamford, mar-
ried Oct. 25th, 1831.
By license, Leo Doolittle, Thorold, and Jane Lucinda Colten,
Stamford, married Nov. 5, 1831.
By banns, Peter Shislerf and Sarah Bernhart, both of Bertie, mar-
ried Nov. 22nd, 1831.
By license, David Hotchkiss to Ann Vanalstine, Thorold, married
Novr. 29th, 1831.
By banns, Elijah Yokam, Crowland, to Catherine Lemon, Wil-
loughby, married in Stamford, Deer. 13, 1831.
=R^ * XT ?elles family settled at Grimsby and near the Grand River. Colonel
Robert Nelles and Hon. Abraham Nelles are buried at Grimsby.
fShister?
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. £ 215
By license, John Blackstock to Ann Grant, Stamford, married
Dec. 14th, 1831.
By banns, Christian Wisely to Emma Winters, both of Humber-
stone, married in Humberstone, December 21st, 1831.
1832
By banns, John Brayley to Hannah Current, both of Crowland,
married January 10th, 1832.
By license, George Hill to Ann Vanalstine, Thorold, married in
Thorold, January 10th, 1832.
By license, Adam Fralick, of Stamford, to Catharine Finnimore,
of Queenston, married in Queenston, February 7th, 1832.
By license, Joseph Woodruff,* to Sarah Shaw, St. David's, married
at St. David's, February 9th, 1832.
By license, Stephen Conklin and Sarah Smith, of Bridgewater,
married at Bridgewater, February 23rd, 1832.
By banns, Andrew Yanalstine and Mary Robins, Crowland, mar-
ried in Crowland, February 28th, 1832.
By license, William Robinson, of Lewiston, U.S., and Sarah Will-
son, of Stamford, married in Stamford, Feb. 29th, 1832.
By license, Thomas Coulson and Elizabeth Griffiths, of Queenston,
married in Queenston church, March 1st, 1832.
By banns, Henry Acker and Charity Overholt, Thorold, married
in Thorold, March 6th, 1832.
By banns, Owen Fares and Christiana Winters, Humberstone,
married in Humberstone, March 19th, 1832.
By license, Frederick Lewis Converse, of Grantham, and Ann
Keefer, Thorold, married May 28th, 1832.
By license, James Little, Grantham, and Ann Youall, Thorold,
married May 28th, 1832.
By banns, James Bird and Jane Smart, Stamford, married June
9th, 1832.
By license, Patrick Elliot and Naomi Cronk, of Chippawa, mar-
ried July 8th, 1832.
By license, Alfred Wattles Allen, of Buffalo, U.S., and Sophia
Maclem Rice, married August 29th, 1832.
* The Woodruff family settled early in St. David's. Ezekiel, the first to
come, died in 1837, aged 73. Richard was a member of Parliament His
daughter married Samuel Zimmerman. William Woodruff was also an M.F.F.
216
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
By license, George Bouck and Ann Eliza Shaver, of Thorold, mar-
ried Sept. 4th, 1832.
By banns, Joseph Springsteen* and Mary Gee, of Gainsborough,
married October 3rd, 1832.
By banns, John Sloat and Nancy Rogers, of Gainsborough, mar-
ried October 3rd, 1832.
1833.
By banns, Joseph Willick and Esther Boyer, Willoughby, married
Jan. 8th, 1833.
By license, Peter Upper and Margaret Vanalstine, of Thorold,
married Jan. 10th, 1833.
By banns, George Hedgers and Mary Robins, of Thorold, married
February 12th, 1833.
By license, Cornelius Bowen and Catherine Mettler, of Stamford,
married Feb. 19th, 1833.
By license, William Vanderburgh and Janet Church, of Thorold,
married in Thorold, February 20th, 1833.
By license, James Williams and Rebecca Smith, of Stamford, mar-
ried in Stamford, Feb. 21st, 1833.
By license, Robert Lockey Floreyf and Margaret Courtney, of
Queenston, married in Stamford church, March 17 th, 1833.
By banns, James Conger and Reety Mitchell, of Pelham, married
April 29th, 1833.
By banns, Reuben Reid and Marilla Cook, Stamford, married
June 5th, 1833.
By license, Abner Cook and Nancy Brookfield, married July 3rd,
1833.
By license, Isaiah Starkey and Elizabeth Riall, Stamford, married
July 6th, 1833.
By banns, John Shirk, of Humberstone, and Mary House, of
Bertie, married in Bertie, July 9th, 1833.
By license, Alexander Ross and Lucy Kerry, of Stamford, married
in Stamford, August 3rd, 1833.
By license, Howley Williams, of Guelph, and Hannah Cartwright
Secord,t Queenston, married in Queenston church, August 22nd, 1833.
* Symington?
fFlorry?
JHannah Cartwright Secord, fourth daughter of James Secord and Laura
Ingersoll. Her first husband was Hawley Williams, her second Edward
Carthew.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 217
By license, John Milton, Niagara, and Eliza Baker, married in
Stamford, September 1st, 1833.
By banns, Hiram Forsyth and Jane Oswald, of Stamford, married
September 3rd, 1833.
By license, Matthew Thomas and Nancy Ann Darling, both of
Thorold, married in Thorold, Sept. 5th, 1833.
George Keefer, Jr., and Margaret McGregor, Thorold, married by
license in Thorold, Sept. 10th, 1833.
By license, Robert Sparrow Delatre and Emma Mary Alder, of
Stamford, married in Chippawa church, Sept. 26th, 1833.
By license, John Poore,* of Guelph, Gore District, and Laura
Secord,t of Queenston, married at Queenston, Oct. 17th, 1833.
By license, James Tidot and Jane Cathcart, both of Stamford, mar-
ried Oct. 19th, 1833.
By license, Dilly Coleman and Sarah Sproule, of Thorold, married
in Stamford, ISTovr. 25th, 1833.
By license, Abraham Wartman Secord and Ann Shaw, Township
of Niagara, married Nov. 28th, 1833.
By license, Henry Dell, Willoughby, and Catherine Shafer, of
Stamford, were married December 3rd, 1833.
By license, William Russell and Elizabeth Evans, of Stamford,
were married December 25th, 1833.
By license, Robert Baldwin Sullivan and Louisa Emma Delatre
were married in Stamford church, December 26th, 1833.
1834.
Thomas Crane and Eliza McGarvey were married by license,
January 13th, 1834.
John Smith Maclem and Susan Maria Hepburne, of Chippawa,
were married by license, January 13th, 1834.
Benjamin Winger and Biarbara Gromiller, of Bertie, were married
(by publication of banns), Feb. 4th, 1834.
Jacob Nisely, of Humberstone, and Elizabeth Danner, of Wil-
loughby, were married by publication of banns, April 15th, 1834.
*Capt. and Mrs. Poore (1st Incorporated Batt. of Militia at Hamilton) once
stayed at my father's house, in 1838 or '39. I remember them and their little
son John.— Geo. A. Bull, March, 1893.
tLaura Secord, the fifth daughter of James Secord and Laura Ingersoll.
Her second husband was Dr. Win. Clarke, her first, Captain F
JFido ?
218
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Adam Duff and Jane Hopkins, Stamford, were married by license,
April 23rd, 1834.
Matthew Overholt, of Pelham, and Elizabeth Winger, of Wil-
loughby, were married by publication of banns, May 18th, 1834.
James Fell and Rachel Skinner, both of Stamford, were married
by license, May 29th, 1834.
George M. Nelles, of Nelson, and Julia Lafferty, Stamford, were
married by license, June llth, 1834.
William Armstrong and Julian Burger, both of Thorold, were mar-
ried by license, June 22nd, 1834.
James Burger and Ruth Crafford, of Thorold, were married by
license, June 22nd, 1834.
Edward Lee and Mary Grabiel, both of Wainfleet, were married
by license, Aug. 4th, 1834.
Thomas C. Kendrick and Ellinor Clarke, of Stamford, were mar-
ried by license, Aug. 6th, 1834.
Thomas Keating and Mary Ann Richardson, of Guelph, were mar-
ried by license at Queenston, August 16th, 1834.
John Laing, Esq., of Stamford, and Caroline Margaret Tench, of
Niagara, were married by license at Queenston church on the 25th
August, 1834.
Christopher Armstrong and — Farrel were married by license,
October 26th, 1834.
Cornelius Foster and Keziah Whatley, of Stamford, were married
by license, November 9th, 1834.
George Todd and Ann Hodgson, both of Thorold, were married by
banns in Stamford, December 17th, 1834.
Job Stevens and Sarah Cox, both of the Township of Niagara,
were married by license, December 25th, 1834.
1835.
Philander Bamp and Phebe Upper, of Thorold, were married by
license, January 7th, 1835.
Duncan M. Campbell, of Vaughan, and Eliza Jane Thompson were
married by license at Chippawa church by W. F. Miller, January 25th,
1835
William Townsend and Ann Maria Bouk, of Thorold, were mar-
ried by license in Thorold, February 8th, 1835.
Andrew Allen and Ann Shipton, both of Drummondville, were
married by license, February 14th, 1835.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 219
Avery Gould and Mary McGarvey, both of Chippawa, were mar-
ried at Chippawa church, February 15th, 1835.
Agnew Patrick Farrell, of the Township of Dunn, and Catherine
Parnell, Stamford, were married by license in Chippawa church
March 10th, 1835.
W. F. MILLER, Off. Min.
George Vanderburgh and Betsey Ann Church, of the Township
of Thorold, were married by license, March 26th, 1835.
Jacob Harp and Mary Moses were married by banns, April 7th
1835. '
Joseph Anthony and Catherine Upper, Haldimand and Thorold,
were married April 7th, 1835, by license.
Thomas Humphries and Anne Kiley, of Queenston, were married
at Stamford church, April 14th, 1835, by license.
WM. LEEMING, Off. Min.
NOTE. — The baptisms, marriages and burials seem to have taken place in
the Queenston Church, Stamford, Chippawa and Lutheran or German church
at Thorold or in private houses, or in case of some burials ini family burial plots.
III.— MARRIAGES PERFORMED BY THOS. CUMMINGS.
NOTE. — Each notice is signed, "Thos. Cummings, J.P.," but this has been
omitted as unnecessary.
Married by me, Thos. Cummings, Esquire, one of His Majesty's
Justices of the Peace for the District of Niagara, John Shaver and
Eve Muma, both of Township of Crowland, agreeable to an Act of the
Legislature of this Province, passed in the thirty-third year of His
Majesty's reign, done at Chippawa this 24th of March, 1801.
Be it remembered, that Wm. Stephens and Susanna Morningstar
came this 19th day of April and intermarried together according to
law, and they are legally contracted to each other in marriage.
Be it remembered, that Peter Lourson, of the 2nd Batt. Royal
Canadian Volunteers, and Margaret Brown, of the Township of Wil-
loughby, was married together by me, this thirtieth day of May, 1801,
by lawful permission.
Be it remembered, that Leo Stenhoof, of Stamford, and Margaret
Wier, of the Township of Willoughby, were married by me at Chip-
220 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
pawa, on Monday, third day of August, 1801, being regularly pub-
lished according to law, by Eev. Robt. Addison, as appears by his note.
Be it remembered, that William Roberts and Elizabeth Moore, of
the Township of Willoughby, in the District of Niagara, were married
on Tuesday, 26th day of January, in the year of Our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and two, agreeable to the statute on such cases,
made and provided, by me.
Be it remembered, that Levi Cassaday and Johana Waterhouse, of
the Township of Thorold, in the District of Niagara, were married
1st March, 1802, agreeable to an Act of the Legislature of this Pro-
vince, by me.
Be it remembered, that John Pettit and Catharine Buchner, of
the Township of Crowland, in the District of Niagara, were married
this 25th day of March, 1802, agreeable to an Act of the Legislature
of this Province, by me.
Be it remembered, that Samuel Beckett and Minas Bradshaw, of
the Township of Pelham, in the District of Niagara, were married
this 31st day of May, 1802, agreeable to.
Be it remembered, that Thos. Cooper and Ann Conkle, of the
Township of Stamford and Thorold, in the District of Niagara, were
married the 6th day of July, 1802, by license for that purpose, made
and promoted by an Act of Parliament of Great Britain.
Be it remembered, that Nathan Strong and Mary Long, of the
Township of Grantham, in the District of Niagara, were married this
15th day of August, in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hun-
dred and two, according to an Act of Parliament.
Be it remembered, that Donald Robins and Mary Dun, of the
Township of Thorold, in the District of Niagara, were married the
23rd day of Nov., 1802, according to an Act of the Legislature.
Be it remembered, that Benoni Wheeler and Elizabeth Chambers,
of the Township of Stamford, in the District of Niagara, were mar-
ried this 27th day of Nov., 1802, according to an Act.
Be it remembered, that Christopher Burt and Mary Oldfield, of
the Township of Stamford, in the District of Niagara, were married
by me, the 1st day of March, 1803, accordincg to an Act.
Be it remembered, that Peter Sinon and Agnes Silverthorn have
this day become lawfully married to each other, the 27th day of April,
1803, by
Be it remembered, that Joseph Rice and Mary Steel have this day
become lawfully married to each other, according to law Chippawa,
14th Aug., 1803.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 221
Be it remembered, that Samuel Dill and Sarah Wilkins were law-
fully married to each other, according to an Act of the Legislature of
this Province, Chippawa, 19th May, 1806.
Be it memembered, that John Wilkins and Pamelia Caul, of the
Township of Crowland, were lawfully married to each other, accord-
ingn to an Act of the Legislature, Chippawa, 27th July, 1807.
Be it remembered, that Bersnolt Dill and Elizabeth Mackinter were
legally married this day, according to law, by me, Chippawa, 18th
May, 1808.
Be it remembered, that John Amnum and Abigail Vincent were
married this day, according to the laws of this Province, Willoughby,
10th Apr., 1809.
Be it remembered, that Arran Dain and Ribia Cronk were mar-
ried this day, according to the laws of the Province, Willoughby, 6th
Aug., 1809.
Be it remembered, that James Dille and Mary Ancybaugh did
intermarry together this eleventh day of November, 1810, in the
County of Haldimand, by me, the subscriber.
Be it remembered, that James Heanslip, Sr., of Thorold, and Elima
Stevenson, of same place, were married by me, the subscriber, this
12th day of April, 1812, according to the law of this Province.
IV.— FROM PAPERS OF JAMES AND THOMAS CUMMINGS, J.P.,
CHIPPAWA, 1816 TO 1832.
Be it remembered, that Thomas Smith and Margaret McCradie,
both of the Township of Willoughby, in the District of Niagara, were
married this twentieth day of April, 1818, according to an Act of the
Legislature of the Province, by me.
Be it remembered, that Thomas C. Vincent and Cloe Dell, both of
the Township of Willoughby, in the District of Niagara, were mar-
ried this seventeenth day of September, 1818, according to an Act of
the Legislature of the Province, by me.
Be it remembered, that John Clemens and Ann Crane, both of the
Township of Willoughby, in the District of Niagara, were married
this 26th day of November, 1818, according to an Act of the Legis-
lature of this Province.
222
ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Be it remembered, that Paul Sans and Nancy Robinson, both of
the Township of Willoughby, were married by me, 29th Apr., 1819,
according to an Act of the Legislature of the Province.
Be it remembered, that James McCradie and - - Willson, of the
Township of Crowland, were legally married this -- day of October,
1819.
Be it remembered, that Henry Smith and — Colton, both of Chip-
pawa, were legally married by me, this — day of — , 1820.
Thomas Rock, Crowland, and — Lutz, of Humberstone, were mar-
ried legally, — day of April, 1820.
Michael and Isabella , both of Chippawa, 7th May, 1820.
V.— COPIED FROM BOOK OF RECORD FOR TOWNSHIPS OF
WILLOUGHBY AND CROWLAND.
"TOWNSHIP OF WILLOUGHBY,
CHIPPAWA, 7th March, 1796.
At a town meeting the following persons were elected to serve in
their respective offices .
Thos. Cummings, Town Clerk.
Jos. Price, Jacob Lemon, Assessors.
Joseph Pill, Esq., Poundkeeper.
Michael Gonder, Thos. Cummings, Philip Torn, Pathmasters.
Mathew Buchner, Abraham Beam, Church or Town Wardens/'
In the record for 1797 the new names are Jas. Macklem, Henry
Wierhuhm, Geo. Young, Christian Boughner, Christian Venegar, Enos
Doan, John Maby, Peter Cobrick, J. Wilson.
In 1798 the new names are John Garner, Elijah Vincent, George
House. In 1800, Christian Hearshey, John Fanning, John Petty.
In 1801, John Byers, Samuel Street.
Gordon Dudley was fined two pounds for not sitting as assessor.
All these years Thos. Cummings was Town Clerk.
Saturday, 9th May, 1801, Court held at John Tanning's. Present :
Samuel Street, John Euby, Thos. Cummings, Esq. ; various persons
were fined ten shillings for not appearing at Militia duty, 13th Apr.
last. Sergeant Wm. Cook did not warn some to appear and was fined
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 223
forty shillings ; John Garner also fined 40s. for same, but pleaded that
he had sent a corporal to warn them and the fine was remitted.
At Town meeting, 1802, new names are Jesse Yoksin, Jno. Brealy,
Nicholas Misener. Fences are to be five ft. six inches high, 4 in. apart
for 4 rails high. Hogs under a year old to be yoked, over a year with-
out yokes.
Various persons were summoned for neglect of duty on 4th June,
some were fined, some excused for various reasons, as being sick, arm
put out of joint, cut foot; one had attended on the Plains in Capt.
Herron's Co., where he formerly belonged.
Mileage and serving summons ....
4
8
Oath
1
0
Judgment
2
6
Two witnesses
5
0
6
Execution
£1 4
2
8
0
Paid suit and costs.
The Town meetings go on in 1803 till 1812, when James Cummings
is Town Clerk till 1823. In 1824, James Kamsay; in 1828, Michael
Gonder. Two pages are devoted to marks on ears of pigs, etc., in
Crowland and Willoughby as a crop on the right ear, a half -penny out
of the left ear, a swallow for in the left ear, a half-moon out of the
under side of the ear, etc.
Another page has a list of men fined in the 3rd Kegt. of Militia
in 1801. In 1810, cash paid for cleaning 40 stand of arms, £3;^to
drum £3 12s. ; to freight of ditto from Albany, 8s. ; 3rd Battalion Lin-
coln Militia.
On last page— Niagara, 24th Apr., 1801. At the Court of Quarter
Sessions, 1801, rules for poundkeepers, signed K. Clench. Account
for making a list of inhabitants, list of town officers and the returns
to Quarter Sessions in April annually, each 100 names, £5 H.* Cy.
For turning the key on receiving a delivery, 7>^d. For every 24
hours after the first 24 for food, Is. 3d., at Niagara Jail.
A number of letters appear, signed by Commissioners of Highways
Samuel Street, Thos. Cummings, Crowell Wilson, directing work to
"Halifax.
224 ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
be done. Many pages are filled with names of men to perform statute
labor. Two pages are filled with the census returns for 1823 ; number
of males and females in each; total, 280 males, 261 females; signed,
Jas. Cuminings, Clerk.
An interesting .account of sales of effects of late Henry Weishuln
at Public Vendue on Saturday, 21st Apr., 1804. An appraisement had
been made by Peter McMicking, John Kow, Jno. Hardy, of £275 10s.
The articles at sale amounted to £278 10s., but some things sold for
much more than appraisement, others for almost the exact amount, but
a few other articles were added. One sorrel horse, £12 ; black colt, £12
4s. ; two mares, £9 and £8 ; tapper Tandy colt, £12 4s. ; yoke of oxen,
£16 4s., another, £19 4s. ; old cow, £4 4s. ; pleasure slay, £1 12s. ;
waggon, £16 8s., another, £13 4s. ; plough, £3 5s. ; six sheep, £10 ;
windmill, £2 8s. ; six sheep, £9 4s. ; ten sheep, £12 4s. ; one bay colt,
£17 12s. ; sorrel horse, £21 4s. ; ox chain, 2s. 3d. ; heifer, £5 ; desk,
£1 14s.; table, 16s.; half of the hogs, £7 12s lOJ^d., other half the
same ; waggon, £20 ; books, 7s. ; Mohawk Testament, 3s. ; Telemachus,
11s. 6d. ; book, 2s. 7d. The 20 pigs had been valued at £13 and were
sold for £15, while 36 sheep were valued at £46 and sold for £40.
A letter from Queenston to Jas. Cummings, 21st May, 1816, advis-
ing him of arrival of the schooner General Brock, from Kingston,
with goods — 22 casks, 2 chests, 13 cases, signed, Thomas Dickson; also
a letter from Grant Kirby.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Chippawa and Lundy's Lane,
held at the schoolhouse at Drummond Hill, pursuant to a public notice,
to consult for the appropriation of a certain sum of money granted by
the Lord Bishop of Quebec towards erecting a church either at Chip-
pawa or Lundy's Lane, the following resolutions were adopted :
CROWELL WILSON, Chairman.
JAMES CUMMINGS, Clerk.
Copy of letter from Major Leonard to Col. Harvey and answer
being read, also a letter from the Lord Bishop of Quebec, stating that
when a church at Chippawa or Lundy's Lane is raised and covered in,
he (the Bishop of Quebec) will give from a fund entrusted to him by
the S. P. G. £100, and that a decent residence be also provided for
the clergyman.
Eesolved, That two churches be built, one at Chippawa and the
other at Lundy's Lane, the one to be an Episcopal church and the other
for all denominations of Christians.
EARLY CHURCHES IN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA, ETC. 225
Resolved, That the church for all denominations be built at Lundy's
Lane.
Resolved, That the subscription list for building church for all
denominations at Lundy's Lane, dated at Stamford, 30th Apr., 1819,
be read.
Read accordingly, and it was found that the amount still due and
to be collected on said subscriptions to be 230 dollars, 88 brs. lime,
shingles sufficient to cover the same, and subscriptions of 20 bushels of
wheat, besides the materials already collected on the spot.
Resolved, That it shall be left to the Trustees to regulate at what
time and to sanction what clergyman may preach in same church. To
meet on 22nd inst.
Drummond Hill School House, 13th June, 1821.
At a meeting at Stamford, 22nd inst, at the house of Hugh
McClive, pursuant to adjournment, Crowell Wilson, Chairman, Jas.
Cummings, Clerk ; Resolved, That Thomas Clark, Thomas Street, John
Lifferty, Jno. Hardy and Jas. Macklem are appointed Trustees for
the superintendence of the church for all denominations of Christians ;*
Resolved, That Thomas Clark, Richard Leonard, Thos. Cummings,
Jas. Macklem and George Mulmine are appointed Trustees for the
Episcopal church to be built at Chippawa.
Stamford, 22nd June, 1821.
Thomas Wilson, the granter of an acre of land on Drummond Hill,
granted to him in trust for church for all denominations.
A meeting on 29th Jan., 1821, at Chippawa, for fixing on plan of
church.
Plan drawn by Col. Clark was approved of, deed to be given before
the church be built.
An agreement to furnish lumber was submitted by Wm. McDonell,
Stephen Farr, Shubail Parks, of Wainfleet, at 14 shillings, K Y. cur-
rency, per hundred feet.
20th March, 1821. Proposals were received from Andrew Kirby,
Canboro, and John Lymburner, Caistor, for furnishing boards.
George Mulmine appointed Treasurer.
*This became the Presbyterian Church, and the Drummond Hill Presby-
terian Church, donated by Wm. Lowell, now stands on the same spot next
the Lundy's Lane graveyard on the hill, the scene of the battle, 25th July, 1< 14.
Publications of the Ontario Historical Society.
Vol. I.— pp. 140. Royal 8vo. (Out of print.)
Rev. John Langhorn — Personal Note.
Marriage Record of Rev. John Langhorn, No. 1.
Rev. G. O'Kill Stuart's Register at St. John's Church, Bath.
Marriage Register of St. John's Church, Ernest Town, No. 2.
Langhorn's Book No. 3.
In the Parish Register of St. George, Kingston.
A Register of Baptisms for the Township of Fredericksburgh.
Rev. John Langhorn's Records, 1787-1813 — Burials.
Rev. John Langhorn's Register of St. Paul's Church, Fredericksburgh.
Rev. Robert McDowall — Personal Note.
McDowall Marriage Register.
A Register of Baptisms by the Rev. Robert McDowall.
Marriage Register of Stephen Conger, J.P., Hallowell.
Some Descendants of Joseph Brant.
Remarks on the Maps from St. Regis to Sault Ste. Marie.
Sketch of Peter Teeple, Loyalist and Pioneer, 1762-1847.
The Cameron Rolls, 1812.
The Talbot Settlement and Buffalo in 1816.
Vol. II.- pp. 128. Royal 8vo. $1.00.
The United Empire Loyalist Settlement at Long Point, Lake Erie
Vol. III.— pp. 199. Royal 8vo. $1.00.
Early Records of St. Mark's and St. Andrew's Churches, Niagara. By
Janet Carnochan.
Baptisms in Niagara by Rev. Robert Addison.
Weddings at Niagara, 1792.
Burials, Niagara, 1792.
Register of Baptisms, commencing 29th June, 1817, Township
of Grimsby.
Register of Marriages, Township of Grimsby, U.C., commencing
August, 1817.
Register of Burials in the Township of Grimsby.
Register of Christenings in the Presbyterian Congregation,
Township of Newark, Upper Canada.
Register of Births and Baptisms, St. Andrew's Church, Niagara.
Marriages celebrated by Rev. Robert McGill.
226
PUBLICATIONS OF THE ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 227
Vol. III. — Continued.
German-Canadian Folk Lore. By W. J. Wintemberg.
The Settlers of March Township. By Mrs. M. H. Ahearn.
The Settlement of the County of Grenville. By Mrs. Burritt.
Recollections of Mary Warren Breckenridge, of Clarke Township Bv
Catherine F. Lefroy.
A Relic of Thayendanegea (Capt. Joseph Brant). By Mrs M E Rose
Holden.
Some Presbyterian U. E. Loyalists. By D. W. Clendennan. S
The Migration of Voyageurs from Drummond Island to Penetancruishene
in 1828. By A. C. Osborne.
List of the Drummond Island Voyageurs.
Portrait of Father Marquette.
A Brief History of David Barker, a United Empire Loyalist. By J S
Barker.
The Old " Bragh," or Hand Mill. By Sheriff McKellar.
The Ethnographical Elements of Ontario. By A. F. Hunter, M.A.
Vol. IV.— pp. 115. Royal 8vo. $1.00.
Exploration of the Great Lakes, 1669-1670. By Dollier de Casson and
de Brehant de Galinee.
GalineVs Narrative and Map, with an English Version, including all the
Map Legends. Translator and Editor, James H. Coyne.
Vol. V.— pp. 236. Royal 8vo. $1.00.
I. Discovery and Exploration of the Bay of Quinte. James H.
Coyne, B.A.
II. The Origin of our Maple Leaf Emblem. The Editor.
III. The Count de Puisaye. A Forgotten Page of Canadian History.
Miss Janet Carnochan.
IV. Historical Notes on Yonge Street. Miss L. Teefy.
V. Presqu'isle. I. M. Wellington, with Notes by C. C. James.
VI. Genealogical List of the Bull Family. Dr. A. C. Bowerman.
VII. A Record of Marriages and Baptisms in the Gore and London
Districts, by the Rev. Ralph Leeming, from 1816-1827. With
Introduction by H. H. Robertson, Barrister, Hamilton, Ont.
VIII. Ancaster Parish Records, 1830-1838, from the Register of the
Rev. John Miller, M.A.
IX. Sketch of the Rev. William Smart, Presbyterian Minister of
Elizabethtown, Holly S. Seaman.
X. Record of Marriages and Baptisms from the Registers of the Rev.
William Smart, Elizabethtown, 1812-1842.
228 PUBLICATIONS OF THE ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Vol. VI.— pp. 170. Royal 8vo. $1.00.
I. The Coming of the Mississagas. J. Hampden Burnham.
II. The First Indian Land Grant in Maiden. C. W. Martin.
III! Journal of a Journey from Sandwich to York in 1806. Charles
Aikens.
IV. The John Richardson Letters. Col. E. Cruikshank.
V. Ontario Onomatology and British Biography. H. F. Gardiner.
VI. The Origin of " Napanee." C. C. James.
VII. Napanee's First Mills and their Builder. Thomas W. Casey.
VIII. Local Historic Places in Essex County. Miss Margaret Claire
Kilroy.
IX. Notes on the Early History of the County of Essex. Francis
Cleary.
X. Battle of Queenston Heights. Editor.
XI. Battle of Windsor. John McCrae.
XII. The Western District Literary and Agricultural Association.
Rev. Thomas Nattress.
XIII. Battle of Goose Creek. John S. Barker.
XIV. McCollom Memoirs. W. A. McCollom.
XV. Brief Sketch of a Canadian Pioneer. (Reprint.)
XVI. The Switzers of the Bay of Quinte. E. E. Switzer.
XVII. The State Historian of New York and the Clinton Papers — A
Criticism. H. H. Robertson.
XVIII. Anderson Record from 1699 to 1896. Mrs. S. Rowe.
XIX. Lutheran Church Record, 1793-1832.
XX. Assessment of the Township of Hallo well for 1808.
Vol. VII.— pp. 236. Royal 8vo. $1.00.
The First Chapter of Upper Canadian History. By Avern Pardoe.
In the Footsteps of the Habitant on the South Shore of the Detroit
River. By Margaret Claire Kilroy.
Births, Marriages and Deaths recorded in the Parish Registers of
Assumption, Sandwich. By Francis Cleary.
The Pennsylvania Germans of Waterloo County, Ontario. By Rev.
A. B. Sherk.
Black List.
An Old Family Account Book. By Michael G. Sherk.
The Origin of the Maple Leaf as the Emblem of Canada. By Miss
Janet Carnochan
Testimonial of Mr. Roger Bates, of the Township of Hamilton, District
of Newcastle, now living on his farm near Cobourg.
Reminiscences of Mrs. White, of White's Mills, near Cobourg, Upper
Canada, formerly Miss Catherine Chrysler, of Sydney, near Belle-
ville, aged 79.
Memoirs of Colonel John Clark, of Port Dalhousie, C.W.
The Origin of the Names of the Post Offices in Simcoe County. By
David Williams, B.A.
BINDING 8E3T. ,.OV 141974
F Ontario history
5500
058
v.8
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
Live Music
Archive
Librivox
Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland
Museum of Art
Internet
Arcade
Console Living Room
Open Library
American
Libraries
TV News
Understanding
9/11